Irish telecoms company Eir has signed a deal with private equity company InfraVia Capital Partners to establish a wholesale fibre broadband network partnership. InfraVia will take a 49 percent stake in a new Eir subsidiary, Fibre Networks Ireland.
The investment will allow Eir to accelerate the roll-out of its FTTH fibre broadband network by 25 percent, passing 200,000 premises in 2022 and increasing to 250,000 premises a year from 2023. This accelerated roll-out will provide around 50,000 more households and businesses per year with access to fibre broadband than expected initially.
Fibre Networks Ireland will provide passive broadband access exclusive to Open Eir, Eir's wholesale division, which in turn will continue providing wholesale services to Eir and other operators. Eir will continue providing services and maintenance for the fibre network. Eir aims to pass 1.9 million premises across Ireland with fibre broadband by end-2026.
