Vodafone Ireland and ESB have signed a JV agreement to invest EUR 450 million in building a new 100 percent FTTB broadband network offering speeds from 200 Mbps to 1 Gbps. The network will use existing electricity infrastructure nationwide to deploy fibre directly into homes and businesses, initially reaching 500,000 premises in 50 towns. The fibre will be deployed on ESB's existing overhead and underground infrastructure.
Subject to EC approval, the 50/50 JV will begin rolling out the new network across Ireland in the coming months, with the first customers coming online from start-2015. The initial phase of the project is expected to be fully rolled out by end-2018, with scope for a second phase under the joint venture. ESB and Vodafone will build and manage the network, with open access to be offered to all telecoms operators on a wholesale basis.
