OPENEIR EIR will not offer fibre until 2026 for those affected by Direct Buries lead (DBL)

nidek · 29-05-2023 07:12PM #1

Many homes like mine built in the 80s and 90s were built by laying the copper lines in the public highway by means of Direct Buries lead.

A quick check on the eir coverage system indicates that I have fibre and copper service, but when the technician comes out he says no service can be installed as it would require ducting.as it is in the public highway, you can't do it yourself.

EIR is counting homes like mine as available fibre optic, so the 1M they claim to have FTTH service should easily subtract 200,000 taking into account this reality.

after contacting openeir , they have confirmed the following:

""The Network team has advised that when the original telephone service was provided to your property the last piece of network from the roadside to the house was completed by the installation of a cable buried directly in the ground. This differs from more recent connections where a small duct was installed from the roadside to the house and the cable was installed in this duct. In the latter case the duct can be re-used for the provision of a fibre cable.Accessing premises previously connected by direct buried leads requires either (i) a new duct from the house to the roadside or (ii) a pole and an aerial drop to the house. Local circumstances and local authorities regulations need to be considered when deciding the appropriate approach.The team is working to implement a process to enable the completion of fibre service where properties were served with direct buried leads but this is not envisaged until the latter end of the IFN programme rollout in 2026.Kind regards open eir team.""

""Open eir have confirmed that they are not willing to carryout civil works on new access duct to this premises until a Direct Buries lead (DBL) solution is available in the future due to cost. So open eir will not supply either VDSL or fibre services until then.""

this problem is especially common in cities like dublin leaving hundreds of homes within 5 to 20 metres of the nearest fibre fenced connection point. in some cases virgin media over HFC provides service, but this is not the case for me or many people.

For its part, NBI indicates no intention to include me in the plans as EIR indicates plans to deploy service...but in 2027....

RobiePAX · 30-05-2023 08:45AM

This sucks yeah. On their maps and marketing posts they make it sound like they can connect so many homes. But all they are actually saying is that the estate has the infrastructure now and that you could be connected in theory. But as in your example that theory is not a guarantee.

It's a low chance but check if SIRO are in your area. They are alternative to OpenEir, Virgin and NBI.

nidek · 30-05-2023 08:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120656740#Comment_120656740

what you say is true, I consider it to be misleading advertising, as they count houses as available when they are not, they also confuse the end consumer, as you go to the website of any retailer such as vodafone and it tells you that you have coverage...when it is not true.

Openeier claims to have reached 1million homes, I doubt it is true, in my neighbourhood there are more than 500 homes with the same problem as me, and in many areas of dublin it is the same.

I have contacted Siro, they tell me that I have no service and that they have no plans to deploy in my area due to According to openeir there is already service available and duplicate networks has no sense.

I am beginning to think that openeir is doing this as a monopoly tactic, to ensure that the future continues to dominate the infrastructure market.

clohamon · 31-05-2023 07:44AM

Very useful OP @nidek

A quick check on the eir coverage system indicates that I have fibre and copper service, but when the technician comes out he says no service can be installed as it would require ducting.as it is in the public highway, you can't do it yourself.

Anyone that sees this below....

"Great News! This premises can avail of a full fibre connection with speeds up to 2Gbps"

...should also check the Upgrade checker regardless. FTTP is seemingly available and not available on the same website.

WildCardDoW · 01-06-2023 01:39PM

I get where you're coming from.

Hell in my area, there are individual houses that can't get it, when houses either side can. I can only assume it's because of some other reason (like they refused to have some of the equipment (external ONT?) installed on their house, or their neighbour(s) did.

It's a spotty rollout but the reason NBI or others won't include you is because they're all planning on a 2026 close out and if you get above 30Mbps - you'll never make the NBI plan IIRC. So eir do have you in their plan, it's just lower priority for whatever reason. I guess the type of work needed is so different to the rest of the rollout that while they have dates for when to start they don't have plan for engaging with the council etc. for all the needed work. I'd imagine they'll change the duct system to the one they have elsewhere so it's just a bigger task.

I know it seems like it will take forever, but it should fly by time wise if not download wise.

You can always try ComReg - and complain about open eir claiming the service level is higher than it is. If anyone has power over them, it's ComReg.

nidek · 01-06-2023 03:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120666398#Comment_120666398

Hello ,

Thanks for the answer.

in my case , i don't have any option to any kind of broadband by cable. Comreg only said ...they don't have the power to force the installation to EIR, and EIR said that they only will offer me a wireless fixed phone as a obligation under USO until 2027....being in a residential area 5km from the centre of dublin...

and NBi said ...because you house is in the eir plans, we are not able to provide any service or deployment...

the funny thing is that my neighbours across the street, 15 metres away, do have fibre and VDSL...

WildCardDoW · 01-06-2023 03:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120666779#Comment_120666779

That really sucks, I'd have thought you have at least up to 100Mbps or 30Mbps. I know, not amazing in this day and age.

I suppose you've considered StarLink or another LOS Satellite option for your area as well as 5G Modem?

nidek · 01-06-2023 04:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120666976#Comment_120666976

Yeah, I'm looking at a 5G modem or something ...but it's clearly not the same as cable....the worst thing is that I have asked openeir for the option of paying for the work myself or contracting a civil engineer to do it at my full cost and they refuse to give authorisation to do the ducting...

my house was built in the 80's and had a copper telephone line, the problem is that over the years, gas, electricity and other installations.... these cables are cut in the street works.... and eir refuses to repair them....

RobiePAX · 01-06-2023 10:05PM

Try 5G MBB for now. Your options are Eir, Vodafone and Three. Choose whichever one has a better coverage in your area. You can use ComReg coverage map to check that.

I know that Eir gives 1 week cooling off period to cancel it if you figure its not worth the money. Not sure about the other two.

rob1113 · 03-02-2026 07:24PM

@nidek hi, just wondering did you ever get this resolved? Encountering the same issue now and tearing my hair out!!

jos22 · 07-02-2026 06:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124203330#Comment_124203330

know your pain, Siro skipped our area due to lack of ducts, Eircom rollout was blocked by neighbor refusing to allow them replace the pole on their land, thus blocking rollout to 160-200 houses, and eircom wont looking at alternative routes due to costs. thus moving us to a gigabit blackspots (gbs)

as it stands due to state aid rules nothing can be done until Eircom rollout completed which going by some statements by them is sometime in late 2028/29.

but some are saying that some houses that are in the Sub 30mbs areas can be moved over the NBI before that when NBI current roll out ends this year.

this was posted on another thread

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5c435f896ca5482e9b40c45d03136701/page/Page#data_s=id%3AdataSource_10-197caa10e36-layer-20-197caa27e4a-layer-26%3A48556

you can look at different deployment areas and see what % of your area has fiber vs what % are connected to fiber

I will be shocked and amazed if the government target of every home having gigabit by 2028 is reached . I be amazed if they met the EU target of 2030

pizzahead77 · 10-02-2026 10:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124215693#Comment_124215693

I thought openEIR would have leeways in place that permitted them to replace poles without needing the landowner's permission, as I'm sure there's still some people using their regular phonelines?

clohamon · 10-02-2026 01:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124215693#Comment_124215693

The current time allowance for the private sector (market) deployments is either 2 years, or no longer than the duration of the State intervention whichever is the longest.

‘relevant time horizon’ means a time horizon used for verifying planned private investments and corresponds to the time frame that the Member State estimates for deploying the planned State-funded network, starting from the moment of publication of the public consultation on the planned State intervention until the entry into operation of the network, namely until the start of the provision of wholesale or retail services on the State-funded network. The relevant time horizon taken into consideration cannot be shorter than 2 years;

State Aid Guidelines Part 2.2(m)

However, the NBP has a 30Mb/s threshold, so, IMO, a State-aided 'Gigabit' intervention would be a different scheme and could start straight away subject to new mapping, consultation, tendering etc.

Whether that argument would be enough to prevent Eircom heading to the High Court is a different question, but the idea that Eircom can take as long as it likes is incorrect even though that's what's being suggested by the Department and ComReg.

TL;DR If you're getting < 30Mb/s you should have a right to join the NBP after Jan 2027 regardless of where you are. If your max is between 30Mb/s and 1 Gb/s you'll have to wait for DCCS/ComReg to enforce Copper Switch-Off, or introduce 1 Mb/s Universal Service, or commence a State Aided gigabit blackspot intervention.

jos22 · 10-02-2026 04:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124222708#Comment_124222708

you would think so, unless terms were different in the 60s when the poles were put up.

yeah all the houses here that still have home phones is via the old socket on the wall and not voip via the router

I believe those houses were built after the poles went in so the 3rd and 4th poles can only be access by entering and existing through people houses. but the one that needs replacing is accessible from the main road

jos22 · 10-02-2026 05:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124223121#Comment_124223121

always thought that from different comments and statements that Eircom are done when their Done regardless of how long it takes.

I always half wandered if they are dragging out certain areas demeaning them as too expensive, in bid to win a tender to go back and them later.

either way the government is currently not willing to do anything while Siro/Eir are still doing working on areas.

OPENEIR EIR will not offer fibre until 2026 for those affected by Direct Buries lead (DBL)

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