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From:Department of Culture, Communications and Sport

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has welcomed the publication of an independent report by Ookla®, a global leader in connectivity intelligence and the company behind Speedtest® and Downdetector®, which confirms that Ireland’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) has delivered a dramatic improvement in broadband performance across rural Ireland.

The report, based on measured Speed test data matched to the National Broadband Plan intervention area, shows that median download speeds in NBP served areas have increased from 11.60 Mbps in 2019 to 156.99 Mbps by mid-2026, representing a 13.5 fold increase in broadband performance.

The research also shows that median upload speeds have risen from 4.67 Mbps to 49.48 Mbps, while the broadband performance gap between rural and urban Ireland has narrowed from approximately 5:1 to 1.6:1.

Speaking recently, Minister O’Donovan said:

This independent report provides powerful evidence that the National Broadband Plan is transforming digital connectivity across rural Ireland. It demonstrates that communities which were once among the least connected in the country are now benefiting from world class fibre infrastructure and broadband performance that is increasingly comparable with urban areas.

The reduction in the rural urban broadband gap is particularly significant. It means greater opportunities for remote working, education, healthcare, farming, enterprise and community development throughout the country.

Luke Kehoe, Lead Industry Analyst at Ookla, said:

What stands out in Ookla data is how sharply broadband performance changes once fibre arrives in rural Ireland. Median download speeds across the intervention area have risen more than thirteen-fold since 2019, while the gap with urban Ireland has narrowed from almost five to one to around 1.6 to one. For a country with one of Western Europe's most dispersed rural populations, that is a substantial shift. The next question is how fully this infrastructure is adopted and translated into wider economic and social value.

The Minister said the findings validate the Government’s long-term investment in fibre infrastructure. As the report states, Ireland has one of the most dispersed rural populations in Western Europe, dominated by one-off housing strung along country roads rather than clustered villages. The final intervention area contains less than a quarter of the state’s premises but covers 96% of its landmass. Serving it required over 100,000km of fibre route, where fewer than six premises per kilometre were served. This made commercial deployment unviable and explains why two decades of market led rollout ended where the intervention area began.

The National Broadband Plan is delivering high-speed fibre broadband to more than 560,000 premises in areas where commercial operators had no plans to invest. The network being deployed is capable of supporting multi- gigabit services, ensuring that rural communities are equipped for future digital demand.

The Minister highlighted that the National Broadband Plan remains on time and on budget, to have the main infrastructure build completed in every county by the end of 2026.

This is not simply about faster internet. It is about enabling balanced regional development, supporting home grown businesses, attracting investment, and ensuring that people can live and work in every part of Ireland with access to the same digital opportunities.

The Minister also acknowledged the work of National Broadband Ireland, (NBI) local authorities, contractors and communities across the country who have supported the rollout of the project.

With the National Broadband Plan now entering its final phase, the Government remains committed to delivering universal high-speed connectivity and ensuring that every home, farm and business in Ireland can participate fully in the digital economy.

Concluding, Minister O’Donovan said:

Ireland’s National Broadband Plan is one of the most ambitious digital infrastructure projects ever undertaken by the State. The independent findings published show that it is delivering real, measurable results for rural Ireland and helping to build a more connected, competitive and inclusive country.

The independent Ookla report can be viewedhere.

Ookla, an Accenture company, is a global leader in connectivity intelligence that brings together the trusted expertise of Speedtest®, Downdetector®, Ekahau®, and RootMetrics® to deliver unmatched network and connectivity insights. By combining multi-source data with industry-leading expertise, they transform network performance metrics into strategic, actionable insights.

Their solutions empower service providers, enterprises, and governments with the critical data and insights needed to optimize networks, enhance digital experiences, and help close the digital divide. At the same time, they amplify the real-world experiences of individuals and businesses that rely on connectivity to work, learn, and communicate. From measuring and analyzing connectivity to driving industry innovation, Ookla helps the world stay connected.