Westmeath gets €46m broadband boost

Over 4,000 homes, farms, and businesses in the county are now connected to high-speed fibre broadband as part of the National Broadband Plan.

A total of 11,770 premises in the county are eligible to order or pre-order a connection, with take-up rates in rural areas around Athlone and Mullingar exceeding 50%.

County-wide, 35% of eligible homes and businesses have already signed up, surpassing the national average of 33%.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment, Peter Burke TD, has welcomed the progress of the National Broadband Plan in Westmeath.

“This is a huge step forward for Westmeath,” Minister Burke said.

“Fast, reliable broadband is making life easier for families, businesses, and farmers. It enables remote work, supports business growth, and provides farmers with access to new technologies.

“The high take-up rate in the county - well above the national average - demonstrates just how much this investment was needed.

“The National Broadband Plan is the biggest rural investment since rural electrification and Westmeath has already received €46 million in Government funding since the rollout began in 2020.”

Minister Burke encouraged residents to check their eligibility by entering their Eircode at nbi.ie/map.

“The rollout in Westmeath is progressing well, and I encourage anyone who hasn’t signed up yet to see if they can connect,” he added.

National Broadband Ireland (NBI), which is managing the project, has connected over 115,000 premises nationwide. For more information on how to connect, visit nbi.ie.