Choosing broadband in Ireland: fibre, 5G, satellite and what speed you need

Broadband in Ireland depends more on where you live than almost any other bill. Two houses on the same road can have very different options. So the first step is not picking a provider, it is finding out what actually reaches your door. After that, the questions are what kind of connection you need, how fast, and what the price will be once the introductory offer ends.

Check what is available at your Eircode

Every address in Ireland has an Eircode, and providers use it to check what they can supply. Have yours ready, you will be asked for it constantly. If you do not know it, it is on most post and bills.

Enter your Eircode on a provider's availability checker, or start on our broadband page and filter by what is on offer. Check more than one provider, because they use different networks. A provider that says "not available" may simply not sell on the network that reaches you.

ComReg, the telecoms regulator, also publishes coverage information and maps, which are useful if you are in a rural area or deciding whether a mobile-based option will work.

The kinds of connection

Fibre to the home (FTTH)

The fibre cable runs all the way into your house. This is the fastest and most reliable kind of fixed broadband. Speeds stay steady at busy times and do not drop off with distance. If FTTH is available at your address, it is usually the best choice for most homes.

Part fibre (fibre to the cabinet)

Fibre runs to a green cabinet on the street, and the last stretch to your home uses the old copper phone line. It is often sold as "fibre broadband", which can be confusing. Speeds depend heavily on how far you are from the cabinet: close by it can be fine, further away it drops off. Ask the provider for the estimated speed at your address, not the headline figure.

Cable

In some towns and cities, broadband comes over a coaxial cable network, the same kind used for cable TV. It can deliver high speeds, but it is only in certain areas.

Rural fibre and National Broadband Ireland

National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is rolling out fibre to homes and businesses in areas that commercial providers did not cover, mostly rural. You do not buy from NBI directly. Once fibre reaches you, you choose a retail provider who sells over the NBI network. You can find out when your area is due on the government's broadband pages. If your address is in the plan but not yet connected, it may be worth taking a short or no-contract option for now, so you can move when fibre arrives.

Fixed wireless

A small antenna on your house points at a mast, often several kilometres away. It is common in rural areas without fibre. Performance depends on a clear line of sight and how busy the mast is. Ask a local provider about real speeds in your area, and ask neighbours.

5G and 4G home broadband

A router with a SIM card connects to a mobile network. There is no line to install, and it can be quick to set up. Where 5G signal is strong it can be fast, but it varies with signal, building materials and how many people nearby are using the mast. Before you commit, check coverage on the ComReg maps and ask whether you can return it within a trial period if the signal is poor. Placing the router near a window often helps.

Satellite

Satellite broadband works almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky, which makes it an option for remote homes with nothing else. Newer low-orbit services, such as Starlink, offer much lower delay than older satellite systems. Things to weigh up:

• You usually buy or rent the dish and router up front.
• Trees and buildings blocking the sky can cause dropouts.
• Speeds can vary at busy times.
• Monthly costs are often higher than fixed broadband.

If fibre is coming to your area soon, satellite may not be worth the hardware cost. If it is years away, it can be a real improvement.

What speed do you actually need

Headline speeds are mostly about marketing. The honest answer is that most homes need less than they are sold. Things that matter:

• How many people are online at once. A single person streaming needs far less than a family with several people on video calls, gaming and streaming at the same time.
• What you do. Browsing, email and music use very little. Streaming video uses more, and 4K video more again. Video calls need a steady connection more than a fast one.
• Upload speed. If you work from home, send large files or stream your own video, upload matters. Fibre to the home usually has much better upload than part fibre or wireless.
• Reliability. A steady connection is worth more than a fast one that drops out.

As a rough guide: a small household that browses and streams in HD does fine on a modest plan. A busy family with remote work and 4K streaming benefits from faster fibre. Very high speed tiers, such as those on our 500Mb and faster list, are useful for heavy users and large households, but many people would not notice the difference from a mid-range plan.

Worth knowing: slow Wi-Fi is often the router, not the line. If speed is fine next to the router and poor upstairs, try moving it to a central spot or adding a mesh system before paying for a faster plan.

The intro price and the price after

Most broadband offers have a lower price for the first year or the first contract period, then move to a higher standard price. When comparing:

1. Find the price after the offer ends, not just the first one.
2. Work out the total over the full contract, including any setup or installation fee.
3. Check whether the router is included or charged.
4. Check whether a landline or TV package is bundled in and whether you want it.

When your contract ends, your provider must tell you, and it is a good moment to compare again. Many people find their existing provider will offer a better price when asked, but only if they ask. You can see the main providers, such as eir, Virgin Media and Sky, on our broadband page.

Contracts and your rights

• Minimum term. Most contracts are for 12 or 18 months, sometimes 24. A longer contract can lock in a price, but it also locks you in.
• Exit fees. Leaving early usually costs money. Read the terms.
• Cooling-off. If you sign up online or by phone, you normally have a cooling-off period to change your mind. Citizens Information explains the rules.
• Price rises. Read how your contract handles price increases during the term.
• Complaints. Complain to the provider first, in writing. If it is not sorted, you can bring it to ComReg. The CCPC also has guidance on contracts and your consumer rights.

Switching provider

Switching is usually straightforward. Your new provider arranges most of it. Before you switch:

• Check the new service is confirmed at your Eircode, not just "likely".
• Agree an install date before you cancel the old one, so you are not left offline.
• Ask how to keep your landline number if you have one.
• Return any rented equipment to the old provider if asked, or you may be charged.

If you are thinking about bundling mobile with broadband, compare the mobile plans on their own too, to be sure the bundle really saves you money.

A quick checklist

1. Find your Eircode and check what each provider can supply.
2. If FTTH is available, start there.
3. If not, compare part fibre, fixed wireless, 5G and satellite for your address.
4. Pick a speed for how your household really uses the internet.
5. Compare the price after the offer, over the whole contract.
6. Check exit fees and the minimum term.
7. Set a reminder for when the contract ends.