National Broadband Ireland : implementation and progress

Digidaz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755465#Comment_123755465

We are in the same position as you - DP's installed on 12th Aug (North East Galway) On the NBI website in different sections it provides conflicting information. When you input the Eircode it states: Network Build Underway while it says its: Available to Order / Pre-Order - Ready for Service on the map section of the same website..

Like you I have the same questions

• What should happen next?
• Where should I be checking that we are Setup & its possible to Order / Pre-Order?
• Who makes the connect to home - Is it the Supplier (Ie. EIR etc) or is it NBI & Co ?

The EIR site for example does not recognise that Fibre is available yet

Guidance appreciated

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755992#Comment_123755992

See my timeline in the previous post.

Once the green box says "Pre-Order now Available" then the RSPs should have your eircode and you should be able to pre-order with your chosen provider.

Your eircode appears to be still at build stage while other parts of your DA is at pre-order and ready for service stages.

Connect to the home is done by NBI via one of their contractors, in my case Circet.

Your provider will supply the router prior to installation.

ItHurtsWhenIP

@The Cush * Connected Sat 23rd Aug

Welcome to the 21st century! 🎉

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123757791#Comment_123757791

Thanks IP.

I went with Pure 500 Mbps, LG8245X6-10 router

Nice tidy professional install, took about 2 hrs

Also got a pic of the light level test into the ONT, hadn't seen this posted previously

con747

I would love to join the club next year when I'm supposedly due to be connected before December but with the idiots around my area taking the lines down every hay cutting season by trailers loaded to high a few times every year and the storms taking the lines out every time I don't know, I'm on the fence between it and Starlink because without internet I have no way of contacting anyone due to being in a mobile black spot. Last Friday was the latest.

ItHurtsWhenIP

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123757909#Comment_123757909

That reading seems to be in the sweet spot, almost bang on the middle of the range. 😎

Digidaz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755992#Comment_123755992

Thanks everyone for replying previously and providing details on your experience - Just a quick update I noticed others on the same exchange had gone pre-order at least a week ago. We have gone pre-order now also on the NBI website since yesterday evening Friday 29th Aug.

However EIR & Virgin Media are not active for my Eircode yet - I supect they will be soon but its interesting that they are all not active at the same time. I suspect their databases need to run updates to the latest list.

I single both these options out as at least EIR have the 2GB option with the WIFI7 which I am interested in. Vodafone with 2GB is active for example Did anyone else have a similar situation when pre-order opened for you first? Thanks

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123769282#Comment_123769282

The "ribbons" out from the exchange don't appear to go live at the same time.

A neighbour on another road was connected the week our area went Ready to Connect but it was 2 weeks before our DP was Ready for Service and connected more than 2 weeks after that neighbour.

I'm still seeing first fix fibre crews around the area.

Yes on the NBI address database, the retail service providers are probably slow updating their respective databases.

KluntishBlastardo

So my mother-in-law's place finally has gone ready for pre-order. Any recommendations as to provider to choose? I see 35 different suppliers listed, so I'll avoid listing them all out, but they include the usuals like Eir, Virgin, Digiweb, Pure, Sky, Vodafone etc. My assumption is that between them all costs and speed will be almost identical, so reliability, support levels, and not being d**ks will be the deciding factor. Comreg says up to 2Gb is supported

If possible would prefer not to use Eir if at all possible, given how the brought their own deployment to the next door neighbor and stopped there. Otherwise she'd be hooked up years ago.

sebna

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123659381#Comment_123659381

Would I be right that you have requested an OpenEir back haul to gain access to 2gbit and eventually 5gbit speeds?

I am also going with Pure but did not know that OpenEir back haul can be requested - is it an option for all customers / locations?

How did it go in the end for you - did they say yes, is it what was installed in the end and what speed have you ordered and what are you getting?

Thanks!

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123774254#Comment_123774254

Pure Telecom still only offer 1Gb. Pure Telecom is the only big provider that doesn’t have their own core network so they use a mix of BT and Eir. The backhaul mentioned here is the core network, not the connection to the exchange/handover.

You can order Eir, Virgin Media etc. for 2Gb, it will still be the same NBI installation with any provider you choose. 5Gb wholesale options have started appearing on NBI but no provider is offering it yet through NBI afaik.

listermint

The absolute rats have moved our date again to jan feb 26. It was meant to be January Feb 25, then June, then Sept,

Just checked moved again.

Raaaats

L1011

Still showing connection as August - September 2025 for me, I wonder can I borrow their time machine to go back to August!

sebna

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123774318#Comment_123774318

Thanks for getting back to me.

From what I have gathered we have the following infrastructures on the ground:

1. Open-Eir
2. Virgin Media
3. Siro
4. NBI (or is NBI only cables connecting to one of the above)?

From conversations with Eir, I know that all nodes that are capable of 2Gbit are in fact 5Gbit and whoever is getting / ordering 2Gbit will be soon auto upgraded to 5Gbit.

My location is part of NBI intervention as the sole option available to me.

Did I understood you correctly that with Pure and via my NBI entitlement I can request for my connection to be connected via NBI cabling to Open-Eir infrastructure? Eir customer service explained to me that eventually Open-Eir will get to my place but as a completely separate infrastructure with their own physical fibre cables and all that.

Thanks

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123774318#Comment_123774318

We had pure there a few years ago and it was on the SIRO network so they obviously use those as well

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123757919#Comment_123757919

If I were in your shoes I'd go with Starlink. There's a free kit offer and a 30-day trial period at the moment

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123775902#Comment_123775902

Yes the access networks are OpenEir, SIRO, NBI, Virgin FTTP. But the retail providers are different to the access networks.

Others can get 5Gb through OpenEir if it is available to them, but it’s only 2Gb for now with Eir through NBI. NBI have added the 5Gb wholesale option recently but the providers haven’t started supporting it as of yet.

No, OpenEir and NBI are separate access networks, you can’t connect them to each other. The core network that Pure Telecom are using is not related to the access network being used.

Both the access network and retail provider need to support the speed you want.

OpenEir & Eir - 5Gb

NBI & Eir - 2Gb for now

Virgin Media FTTP & Virgin Media - 5Gb

SIRO & Virgin Media - 2Gb

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123775933#Comment_123775933

SIRO is the access network. Pure Telecom needs to have a core network to connect the SIRO connection to, because they don’t have their own setup they use Eir and BT.

Access networks are only from your property to the exchange/handover.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123775966#Comment_123775966

Sounds very complicated.

We might have been better off with just one provider for the entire country considering they all share the equipment anyway

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123775933#Comment_123775933

I seen that and am seriously considering it because the line is still down after 8 days so I would have no faith in overhead cables bringing me fibre.

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123775979#Comment_123775979

They don’t, each access network would install their own equipment in your house and none of them would touch the other. You would have multiple ONTs installed.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123775985#Comment_123775985

Also if you have a solar or battery backup, or even an EV with V2L your Starlink would still work in the event of a power cut unlike the others. I imagine power cuts are a real threat when you live rurally

Sure what do you have to loose?

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123775998#Comment_123775998

I have and the solar has saved me in many a power cut! I have wireless broadband at the minute so it works when power is down.

sebna

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123775960#Comment_123775960

Hmm thanks but you did not answer my question really.

So in my case, when the only option available to me is NBI, can I / should I request Pure to use Open-Eir backhaul (for easier future access to 2gbit / 5gbit packages when and if Pure offers them - or for easier switching to Eir if I would choose so when my contract is up for renewal)?

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123777465#Comment_123777465

I did answer it. Asking Pure Telecom for Eir backhaul will not change what speed is offered to you, it’s the core network not access network.

You currently only have NBI available to you which providers are only offering up to 2Gb on at present.

I’m sure providers will offer 5Gb through NBI in the future and you’ve said OpenEir will be installed in the future for you so you can use that instead to get 5Gb, you will then have two connections with two ONTs.

ArrBee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123774254#Comment_123774254

Hi,

The reason I went with Eir instead of BT was primarily based of comments I read suggesting that it was a better (less latency) network when compared to BT.
I was more about avoiding BT I guess.
The idea that Eir are already removing some speed offerings in favour of higher ones, did feature a bit, but I guess Pure can't move to the higher speeds unless BT core can also handle it. Not that I have any reason to think they can't…

My 2c is that higher speeds will come based on commercial decisions (are they loosing sales to the competition).
One thing you might see is some ISPs being reluctant to offer higher speeds due to the perception that they would also need to supply faster router/switch, while others might be less scrupulous.

My guess is that the handoff to core network will not be the limiting factor in what speeds are offered.
If you really want a faster connection (and have the home infrastructure to support it) you should go with an ISP that offers 2Gb today as they will be more likely to offer 5Gb later?



with that said the way I went about it was:

-discussed with the sales person(s) -some knew what I was talking about and some didn't
-place the order
-wait 30mins (there system flush orders to the next step periodically)

-called back and spoke to the connections? team to explain I wanted OpenEir
-they did that while I was on the phone

After connection trace route shows me going through Eir infrastructure. also, any website that tries to resolve my ISP reports "Eir"


I got the sense through some of the replies from Pure, that you might need Eir if you want IPV6? Like they assumed that was why I was asking for an Eir connection. not 100% sure of that though.

ArrBee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123777465#Comment_123777465

To answer your question, "no".
You should not ask to be connected to the eir core for the reason you give.

It's anyone's guess which ISPs start offering 5Gb on NBI 1st. could be Eir, could be Pure, or vodafone, etc.
Chances are you would not be autoupgraded during the contract (ignore what is happening on the openEir network for Eir customers) and you would then need be able to switch to whatever ISP offers 5Gb on NBI when it comes along (Your choice if you wait til out of contract or pay to be released i guess)

If speed is a concern, go with an ISP offering 2Gb on NBI today. then switch to anyone offering 5Gb when it comes.

Or, get your crystal ball out and decide which ISP will offer 5Gb 1st, and go with them in the hope that you can swap to the 5Gb under a new contract as an "upgrade".

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123778785#Comment_123778785

Off-topic for this thread I know but I wonder if they could still provision Eir backend on a SIRO line? Not sure if SIRO can even do IPoE, seems to be all PPPoE there.

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123778838#Comment_123778838

Virgin Media through SIRO uses IPoE afaik

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123778785#Comment_123778785

I'd presume you're right that their procedure if someone is requesting IPv6 is to use Eir, as there would be IPoE and IPv6 support with Eir.

When I was with Pure, same as you've said with Eir, all websites reported my ISP as BT Ireland. There was no ping issues but I had issues with I presume BT's routing to Meta, posts on Instagram and Facebook just wouldn't load for a few minutes, issue was resolved when I switched provider.

ArrBee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123779151#Comment_123779151

Can't remember which thread on here that I saw someone saying that the BT ping was inconsistent and sometimes in the 10-15ms range.

I would also guess that Eir are more likely to manage/invest here going forward compared to BT??? pure speculation on my part though. Excuse the pun :P