"Fibre broadband" in Ireland can mean different things. Here's what you need to know to understand what you're actually buying.
Types of Fibre in Ireland
1. FTTC (Fibre-to-Cabinet)
What it is: Fibre runs to a street cabinet, then copper wire to your home.
Speeds: Up to 100Mb (limited by copper)
Providers: Eir (older areas), some Sky/Vodafone connections
Reality check: This is the oldest "fibre" technology. Speed drops with distance from cabinet.
2. FTTH (Fibre-to-Home)
What it is: Fibre runs directly to your home. Pure fibre, no copper.
Speeds: Up to 2Gb
Providers: Open Eir FTTH, SIRO, NBI
Reality check: This is true fibre. Best speeds and reliability.
3. Cable (Part-Fibre)
What it is: Fibre backbone + coaxial cable to your home.
Speeds: Up to 2Gb
Provider: Virgin Media only
Reality check: Technically "part-fibre," not pure fibre. Still very fast.
Irish Fibre Networks
Open Eir Network
Owner: Eir Technology: FTTC + expanding FTTH Coverage: Widest in Ireland (~95%) Providers: Eir, Sky, Pure Telecom, Vodafone, Digiweb
If you're not in a Virgin or SIRO area, you're probably on Open Eir.
SIRO Network
Owner: ESB + Vodafone joint venture Technology: Pure FTTH Coverage: ~50 towns/cities Providers: Vodafone, Pure Telecom, Sky, Digiweb
SIRO uses ESB's electricity poles to run fibre. Where available, it's excellent quality.
Virgin Media Network
Owner: Virgin Media Technology: Cable (HFC) Coverage: ~50% of Ireland (urban) Provider: Virgin Media only
Separate network from Open Eir/SIRO. Only available in Virgin coverage areas.
NBI Network
Owner: National Broadband Ireland Technology: Pure FTTH Coverage: Rural Ireland (expanding) Providers: Digiweb, Pure Telecom, Sky, Vodafone
Government-backed rollout bringing fibre to rural areas.
How to Check What's Available
Step 1: Check Your Eircode
Enter your eircode on:
- eir.ie (Open Eir network)
- virginmedia.ie (Virgin cable)
- siro.ie (SIRO fibre)
- nbi.ie (NBI rural)
Step 2: Understand the Results
"Fibre available" could mean:
- FTTC (up to 100Mb) — older technology
- FTTH (up to 1-2Gb) — true fibre
Check the maximum speed offered to know which type.
Step 3: Compare Providers on Your Network
Once you know your network, compare providers:
- Eir network: Eir, Sky, Pure Telecom, Vodafone
- SIRO: Vodafone, Pure Telecom, Sky
- Virgin: Virgin Media only
- NBI: Digiweb, Pure Telecom
Fibre Speed Tiers
| Tier | Speed | Good For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 100-150Mb | 1-2 people | €30-35/mo |
| Standard | 300-500Mb | Families | €35-45/mo |
| Fast | 1Gb | Heavy users | €40-50/mo |
| Ultra | 2Gb | Power users | €55-70/mo |
Most households don't need more than 500Mb.
FTTH vs FTTC: Does It Matter?
FTTC (Fibre-to-Cabinet)
Pros:
- Widely available
- Cheaper in some cases
- Good enough for many users
Cons:
- Speed limited by copper (~100Mb max)
- Speed drops with distance from cabinet
- Less reliable than pure fibre
FTTH (Fibre-to-Home)
Pros:
- Much faster speeds (up to 2Gb)
- Consistent performance
- Future-proof
- More reliable
Cons:
- Not available everywhere
- May require installation work
Verdict: If FTTH is available, it's worth the upgrade. But FTTC is fine for basic use.
Virgin Cable vs True Fibre
Virgin Media uses cable (HFC), not pure fibre. Does it matter?
In practice: Virgin delivers excellent speeds—often the fastest available. The "part-fibre" distinction is technical, not practical.
However: Virgin can't advertise as "full fibre" under ASA rules, which is why you'll see "part-fibre" disclaimers.
Common Fibre Questions
Is fibre better than cable?
For consumers, both deliver fast, reliable broadband. Pure fibre (FTTH) has slight advantages in latency and future speed potential, but Virgin's cable is excellent.
Why can't I get fibre?
Fibre infrastructure hasn't reached everywhere. Rural areas especially may only have FTTC (to cabinet) or need alternative solutions (wireless, satellite).
How do I get FTTH installed?
If FTTH is available but not connected to your home:
- Order from a provider on that network
- They arrange connection
- Engineer runs fibre to your property
- Usually free as part of signup
Is 1Gb actually 1Gb?
Speeds are "up to" figures. Real-world speeds depend on:
- Network congestion
- Your router quality
- WiFi vs wired connection
- Time of day
Expect 80-95% of advertised speeds on fibre.
What about upload speeds?
Most Irish fibre offers:
- FTTC: ~20Mb upload
- FTTH: 100-500Mb upload (varies by plan)
- Virgin: ~50Mb upload
Upload matters for video calls, cloud backups, and content creators.
Summary
Best fibre in Ireland:
- SIRO (pure FTTH where available)
- Open Eir FTTH (expanding)
- Virgin Media cable (fast, different network)
- NBI (rural rollout)
- Open Eir FTTC (oldest, slowest)
Check availability at your address first, then compare providers on your available network(s).
Last updated: January 2026