National Broadband Ireland : implementation and progress

Does anyone know is the 2Gbps product running over a 10Gbps XG-GPON link or is it just GPON maxed out? That's a serious result posted either way!

XG-PON

Got my NBI installation last week in the Kilgarvan DA, Kerry. It was initially scheduled for the 30th, but when I called to confirm in response to the installation confirmation text I was offered a cancellation for the next day. I am absolutely thrilled with it. Installation was last Saturday week 25/11/23.

The Circnet technician arrived around 10:30am and was in and out in under 2 hours, I went for the overhead cable route mirroring the Eir Landline from the DP on the pole, an underground install would be extremely difficult; needing to trench tarmac and cut footpaths, it would be totally crazy in comparison to what we did.

The fibre cable went into the attic and down to the opposite end of the house where it entered pre existing cable trunking, with the ONT Wallmounted just above the former EIR Mastersocket.

I had as much prepwork as possible done ahead of the installation. I had trees cut back, a clear pathway for the cable made. The technician clipped it on the purlin all the way down the attic which is floored and lit, an abandoned loft conversion which never went all the way. He dropped the cable down and into the cable trunking. It was an incredibly neat and tidy installation and the guy was very precise and exact in his job. He used 52m of fibre cable and photographed different sets of the work into his system ipad, there is a big database so that NBI can see exactly the setup in each premises, from the cable entry and location of the ONT etc. This will greatly help in future repairs and fault finding.

Timeline of my installation:

NBI website with my eircode changed to available to pre-order: 13/10/2023, a friend of mine pre-ordered the next day on 14/10/2023 and was installed on 20/11/2023

I myself ordered on 20/10/2023 from a salesman from Vodafone who doorstepped me and I went for the 500mb package for €40 + €5 per month for the Voip landline for a total of €45 a month. I could have subsequently got cheaper deals from Sky and on Black Friday but for the first time in years I feel I'm getting value for my money.

I was offered an installation date from Circnet on behalf of Vodafone for 30/11/2023, I accepted.

Fast forward to 24/11/2023 I received an SMS text from Vodafone to confirm the 30/11/2023 installation date, I called up to confirm and was offered a cancellation of the next morning, I accepted and I had it installed on 25/11/2023. Placing my order to active service 20/10/2023 to 25/11/2023.

To say I am happy is a huge understatement, I have watched a few hours of youtube and netflix without buffering, done some great high quality video calls and a Zoom call to make up for lost engagement in Dublin due to the riots last week there.

I was contemplating getting Starlink as its prices dropped but as the timeline for Fibre emerged and activity locally increased with DP's mounted and fibre starting to be strung I clung on. My initial time for the last 12+ months was Oct-Dec 2023, the pessimist in me said St. Patrick's Day 2024 and I never expected to have FTTH for Christmas 2023 to be honest.

My internet history in a nutshell:

1998-2005: Dial-up 44.8kbps, Indigo go-free, Telecom Eireann Tinet, Oceanfree and finally BT Internet

2005-2008: One way Satellite: Teles Skydsl a German Company 2mbs down with a 3gb allowance, using the Dial-up as upload/uplink, massive ping

2008-2010: Local adhoc wisp, 7mbps shared by about 30 houses, later raising to 24mbps, using 5ghz radio antenna.

2010-2023, Eir ADSL 2.0 giving 14.2mbps down and 0.9-1mb up, used this with Eir, Vodafone and Sky down through the years, usually jumping ship each year for the best deal.

2019-2023, Eir 4G on my smart phone used for upload for any large files.

2023- NBI Fibre to the home now, finally.

These are my speed test results I forgot to include in yesterdays post.

Quick one, why did you call to confirm installation date? Only call to change from the SMS I got.

I got the pre order email and then went with Eir last week as soon as received and received install date via SMS of 17th Jan. I'll take that. But if I call may I get a cancellation and sooner date?

South kilkenny BTW and expected pre-oder date was originally July-Dec 2024. Love you post details. I hope something similar, into attic and then run down along attic floor maybe 25-30m's into a ducting down into the Comms room. Great in theory but they may not do that. Ducting will be near impossible.

Thank you, I confused it with original text advising of install date. I'll keep eye out for a message in the new year so.

I've got the 2nd email/text with the install date of 17th January. Got the above email a week or so prior. So I take it the 17th Jan is install date? And Eir salesman called to my door the other day to sell the fibre as my house was on his list. He missed out on a sale by about 12 hours as only done it myself online the night before. He said install to be about 2nd week January and he was near bang on. But when they do their first visit, they will have to come back because the road and poles are across the field and I'm fairly sure new poles will need to be installed. The old copper connection into the house is nowhere to be found and the poles at rear of the house are for ESB.

Ya Eir were in my area literally the day they knew the lines would be going live within a month. I initially was signing up as the offer seemed pretty decent. After thinking about it for a day I changed my mind and pulled the plug straight away. Too many previous bad experiences with them and the initial sign up was not all as it seemed. Have gone with sky and have an installation date for December 16th.

Have heard a few neighbours signed up to eir and have been having problems already.

Eir are cowboys.

I looked around but Sky estimated install date was the middle of March, Vodafone likewise. And I'm with sky already so would be renewing my TV contract which I don't want either as that will be cancelled next year. Went with Eir, and initial install / 1st visit is middle of January. I know for sure a 2nd visit will be required so at least a bit ahead getting the ball rolling. I've dealt with Eir before and know exactly their carry on but a few months earlier made the difference as I'm in bad need of the fibre as the three mobile coverage is gone to sh*t over the last few months especially with 2 of us WFH FT.

Broadband installed today. NBI had been saying Jan 2024 -April 2024. Went live the end of November and installed today.

Went with Sky. KNCircnet arrived today and were gone in Under two hours. Up and running immediately and speeds of 553 Down and 52 Up over Wifi. On the 500mb package with Sky €35 a month for 12 months.

Also the fact I was already with sky it has made the sky mini boxes I had wifi extenders seamlessly. I didn't have to do any messing around it just worked straight away which is very handy. All my boxes are connected via Cat 5.

Got a similar one despite survey 6 months back

Your current status is January 2026 - December 2026

Got NBI email this morning also. But great news for me, Network build has started. So hopefully only 12-18 months away now. Clonakilty area in Cork.

Hi All, any idea how long it takes to get a site surveyed in an area that is already live? Eircode was got in August and NBI website is saying we have received the eircode for a good few months.

Awaiting KN to rock on today, look at the house and say "we need a few poles / ducting to be placed". Yes, this is exactly what I told ye on the phone for the last month anytime ye rang to confirm "instillation". Waste of time the installation crew coming today. House is a solid 600m's from the road where the Fiber is hooked up, nothing in-between to the house. A day off work for a 10 minute chat in the garden, which could have been done over the phone or just get a surveyor to call out first and see what needs to be completed.

Heard this lots. . And always with Eir. I was connected the instant the installers were finished. . With Sky

I was installed on a Thursday and only connected the following Monday with Eir...All great now and happy, but at the time the installers said this only happens with Eir form some reason.

Sorry to jump in mid thread but I have no idea how to search.

So NBI is finally getting to our area, we had the preorder this week because seemingly it will get installed in next 2 months.

In the house I think we have a phone line but it is not active. I don't even know where it comes in because we bought the house and never looked.

I am just wondering do they come in over the telephone line or how do they connect into the house? can I also get them to change from the current location if we find the telephone line? I have a comms rooms connected to a house wifi network. Would I be able to get them to run to that so I can connect the new wifi router to it? Thanks

The copper phoneline is now defunked.

They will run a new fibre line to the house overhead or in an existing duct from a nearby pole with a new fibre distribution box or from an underground chamber.

If there is an existing duct it might be a good idea to see where it is running.

Officially they run the fibre 1m into the house and terminate at an ONT, this will be located close to a power socket.

You can discuss with the installer on the day options on how and where the fibre cable will run.

Cutting trees in Timoleague area (West Cork) last few days.

Anticipated date for connection:July 2025 - December 2025. Great to see movement all the same.

Haha