Who Is Rural Broadband Ireland?

Rural Broadband Ireland is a broadband company that focuses on providing a service specifically aimed at getting WiFi to rural communities. Whereas most broadband providers focus on providing highly populated areas with fixed-line broadband solutions, Rural Broadband uses WTTX technology to reach areas that traditional fixed lines can't access.

Based in Clonmel, Rural Broadband is an Irish company that, unlike many localised broadband networks, provides wireless broadband nationwide through the Eircom and ESB networks as part of the NBP (National Broadband Plan).

What is WTTx? Standing for "Wireless To The X" (X being any destination), WTTx is essentially the provision of fibre-like broadband via 4G-5G signals. These signals are typically picked up by either a dish attached to your house or a small modem, which are then re-emitted as a localised broadband signal.

What Is National Broadband Ireland?

The National Broadband Plan (also known as National Broadband Ireland) is a government-backed plan that aims to encourage the development of rural areas and increase the quality and accessibility of internet connections within them. The NBI Network is divided into 227 deployment areas, each covering approximately 20 km, and centred around one of 33 regional exchanges.

The extension and upgrading of the NBI network is ongoing and has not yet reached all areas. To see if your regional broadband is up and running with NBI, check the National Broadband Plan coverage map.

Find the Best Broadband Deal in Your Area!

Our broadband experts at Selectra compare all Irish providers to find you the fastest and cheapest plan in your area — completely free.

Ad - Selectra Service
This is a free call from Ireland. Selectra agents can assist you with comparing and switching energy providers on weekdays between 9 am and 5.30 pm.

What Packages Does Rural Broadband Ireland Offer?

While many providers such as Vodafone, Virgin Media and Sky tend to overcomplicate their offering by bundling various products together, Rural Broadband keeps things nice and simple by offering three simple packages.

Rural Broadband Ireland packages
Package Name Monthly Price Contract Length Router Price Installation Fee Phone Line Speed
Fibre + 500 €34.75 18 months Free Free Yes Up to 500 Mbps
Fibre + 1G €53.99 18 months Free Free Yes Up to 1 Gbps

All of these packages feature unlimited usage, along with having free calls to all Irish and UK landline phone numbers. If you are concerned about maintaining your existing phone number when switching, you can rest assured that fixed-line phone lines will be moved over to the broadband phone available through Rural Broadband services.

Why Should I Choose Rural Broadband Ireland?

While many large broadband providers boast population coverage rates of around the 90% figure, the population of Ireland is naturally concentrated in large cities and towns.

Rural Broadband Providers:

  • Specialised rural broadband area focus and development
  • Less reliant on fixed lines to provide services
  • Generally smaller providers, meaning potentially limited capabilities and coverage
  • Slowly growing network; you may not be covered yet

Large Broadband Providers:

  • Well-known and trusted brands
  • Multiple products and contracts are available
  • Coverage is focussed on cities and towns, with poor rural reach
  • Impersonal service or local knowledge; may not have accurate knowledge of your specific area

What Other Rural Broadband Options Do I Have?

If you cannot access either wired networks, Rural Broadband, or the NBI network, you still have a few options remaining:

  • Satellite Broadband - A satellite dish will be installed in your home, which will pick up signals emitted from a satellite in space
  • Mobile Broadband - A modem picks up wireless 3G, 4G and 5G signals before re-emitting them as WiFi, allowing multiple devices to connect
  • Dongles - Similarly to mobile broadband, these devices receive wireless signals, and provide a connection to the device into which it is plugged

One thing to bear in mind with these broadband types, however, is that though they are wireless, they do sacrifice connection speed for mobility and forgoing a fixed-line connection. Mobile broadband and dongle signal strength is also dependent on the quality of your local network.

Find the Best Broadband Deal in Your Area!

Our broadband experts at Selectra compare all Irish providers to find you the fastest and cheapest plan in your area — completely free.

Ad - Selectra Service
This is a free call from Ireland. Selectra agents can assist you with comparing and switching energy providers on weekdays between 9 am and 5.30 pm.

How Can I Contact Rural Broadband Ireland?

Rural Broadband Ireland contact details
Contact Method Contact Details
Contact Form Available on the website
Email [email protected]
Call 026 68 546
Social Media Facebook

As each location has its own challenges in terms of capabilities and signal types, Rural Broadband packages are only available to be taken out by making direct contact with them, rather than completing an online application.

Frequently Asked Questions About rural broadband

No. A dish will be installed on the side of your house to pick up local WTTx signals, which will then be re-emitted from your modem as broadband WiFi signals.
No. Though Rural Broadband uses some of the equipment and networks of other providers, all of your billing will go through Rural Broadband only.

Though Rural Broadband is set to be a strong contender for the title of 'best rural broadband supplier' in future, due to its network development not being fully complete, the next strongest contenders are:

  • Eir
  • Sky
  • Vodafone
  • Pure Telecom
  • Regional Broadband
Yes, but the payment is only due when everything is installed and functional. Meaning that if it turns out that the service is not viable for your home, there will be no charge.