Siro urges Budget 2027 funding for fibre blackspots

SIRO has urged the Irish Government to use Budget 2027 to fund measures aimed at achieving gigabit connectivity for all by 2028, arguing that gaps remain in coverage and business adoption.

The broadband operator wants the budget to include a Network Resilience and Diversity Investment Programme to reach premises that may still be left without access to full-fibre broadband after current commercial rollouts finish. It also wants a Copper-to-Fibre Business Migration Initiative to help small and medium-sized enterprises move away from copper-based services.

SIRO said as many as 200,000 premises, or up to 10% of homes and businesses, could remain outside full-fibre coverage once existing commercial build plans are complete. Extending networks to those locations has made them commercially unattractive, it said.

That shortfall sits against the Government's Digital Connectivity Strategy, which targets gigabit connectivity for all by 2028. SIRO argued that intervention is now required if that goal is to be met.

Industry figures cited by the operator show the scale of progress already made. ComReg data indicates that 86% of Irish premises can now access fibre-to-the-premises broadband, while operators' fibre rollouts are expected to conclude over the next 12 months. National Broadband Ireland has also reported build completion in counties around the country.

Remaining gaps

SIRO said the proposed Network Resilience and Diversity Investment Programme should do more than address broadband blackspots. The fund could also improve network resilience, strengthen international connectivity links and support communications infrastructure better able to withstand climate-related disruption, it said.

The operator's second proposal focuses on business usage rather than coverage. ComReg's latest market data shows that only 13% of businesses currently use a fibre-to-the-premises connection, leaving a large share of firms dependent on older copper networks.

SIRO said this low adoption rate means many companies are still using broadband services that fall short of full fibre on speed, reliability and resilience. It wants the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to lead a migration initiative aimed at increasing uptake among smaller businesses.

Under that approach, support for upgrade costs would be channelled through an extension of the existing Grow Digital Scheme, which already helps businesses trade online. Eligible firms would receive assistance with the costs of moving from copper to fibre broadband, including a 100% first-year capital allowance on qualifying spending.

Business case

SIRO framed the two proposals as targeted responses to separate but related problems in Ireland's digital infrastructure landscape. One is the risk that a final group of premises remains disconnected from full-fibre access. The other is that many businesses do not adopt fibre even where it is available.

John Keaney, Chief Executive Officer of SIRO, set out that position in the company's budget submission.

"Ireland has made enormous progress in rolling out full-fibre broadband, but some strategic gaps remain. Up to 200,000 premises may still be unable to access fibre broadband, while many Irish SMEs continue to rely on outdated copper networks.

"SIRO's Budget 2027 proposals offer practical, cost-effective measures to address both challenges. By investing in broadband blackspots and supporting businesses to adopt fibre, Government can help Ireland achieve its gigabit connectivity for all ambition and ensure our businesses are digitally advanced and remain internationally competitive."

The figures cited by SIRO suggest that the next phase of Ireland's broadband policy may depend less on broad national rollout and more on targeted intervention. With most premises already within reach of fibre, the debate is shifting towards how to connect harder-to-serve locations and persuade more businesses to switch from legacy copper services.