Great frustration as Thurles is overlooked again for fibre optic broadband

Broadband access in Laois set for expansion.

placeholder image — Broadband access in Laois set for expansion.

Siro is rolling out fibre optic, using the ESB network. to 2,200 premises in Roscrea and will also do Nenagh and Clonmel.

Siro, a joint venture company between ESB and Vodafone is to provide broadband connectivity to 2,200 premises in Roscrea over the coming months using the electricity network, a move that has been warmly welcomed by members of Templemore Thurles Municipal District.

However there is great frustration and anger at the fact that Thurles has once again been overlooked having lost out of the MANS broadband rollout a number of years ago also.

Cllr Michael Smith welcomed the news about the Siro rollout - the internet companies simply hire the network off Siro to bring their services into the premises of customers - they have earmarked 50 towns in Ireland including Roscrea, Nenagh and Clonmel, in phase 1, according to Aoife Ni Lochlainn of Siro.

Cllr Jim Ryan - angry that Thurles has been left out.

At present the download speed in Tipperary is 24megabites per second, whereas in Dublin the average speed is 64 mbps.

The Thurles based farmer was 295 votes ahead of his nearest rival, Cllr Michael Smith and pledged to work as hard as he has done since his election to Dail Eireann to bring the party back to its strongest possible position.

Cllr Michael Smith - delighted that Roscrea is included.

Cllr John Hogan said considering Thurles status as an education hub, fibre optic broadband must be a priority and he asked for Thurles to be given priority in the phase 2 rollout if there is one.

Thurles will be considered in the context of the upgrade of Liberty Square where new ducting will be installed.