Virgin Media Ireland and Vodafone Ireland have today agreed a wholesale network access deal, which will see Vodafone offering their customers fixed line broadband services using Virgin Media’s superfast fibre broadband network.

 

The Virgin Media network passes 1 million premises across Ireland, offering broadband speeds of 1Gbps (gigabits per second). Virgin Media’s ongoing €200m network upgrade to full fibre over the next three years will support speeds up to 10Gbps. Virgin Media has already upgraded over 150,000 premises to fibre across the Virgin network.

 

Through this new wholesale network access agreement between the companies, Vodafone’s customers will now have more choice and will be able to avail of Virgin Media’s expanding Fibre network.

 

Tony Hanway, Chief Executive of Virgin Media Ireland said, “We’re very pleased to provide network access opportunities to other operators for the first time and we welcome Vodafone as our first wholesale network partner. It’s all systems go as we continue to expand our network nationally and bring ultrafast fibre connectivity to over 240,000 homes by the end of 2022, and over 1 million homes by 2025. Our entry into the wholesale market will support more competition while improving service delivery for consumers, businesses and communities across Ireland.”

 

Amanda Nelson, CEO of Vodafone Ireland said, “As Ireland’s largest Fibre to the Home market provider in Ireland, and the fastest growing broadband provider over the last 12 months, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to bring the best products and solutions to our customers. Our new broadband partnership with Virgin Media means Vodafone customers will be able to avail of their Fibre to the Premise network, as they continue to upgrade to fibre around the country. Having recently celebrated 21 years in Ireland, we are looking forward to supporting our customers and businesses across the country long into the future, ensuring balanced regional development and a resilient and strengthened economy. Partnerships such as this, demonstrate our continued focus on our significant network investment strategy, as we look to continually upgrade and refresh our capabilities in Ireland.”