SIRO and BT Ireland strike network access deal
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SIRO and BT Ireland strike network access deal

Irish broadband provider SIRO has struck a deal with BT Ireland to offer its customers access to the Vodafone/ESB joint venture’s fibre to the building (FTTB) network.

SIRO offers 1GB FTTB connections in 17 towns across Ireland (nine of which are live), with its network passing more than 40,000 premises. It is aiming to offer services in 50 towns as the first part of its network roll out.

It was set up by Vodafone and ESB, using the latter’s network offering 100% fibre services. SIRO said the network interconnect agreement with BT will see it add multiple retail partners in the future, expanding its reach across Ireland.

SIRO CEO Sean Atkinson said: “The agreement with BT is a sign of the demand by broadband providers across Ireland for an alternative national telecoms infrastructure. The combination of BT’s national fibre network and SIRO’s local access network will be transformative for regional Ireland and local operators. 

“As our unique 100% optical Fibre-to-the-Building network is the only solution capable of future proofing Ireland’s broadband needs, we expect further interest from new retail partners within BT’s existing wholesale customer base.”

BT Ireland operates as a network aggregation service, utilising its own network and those from other providers including the government’s Metropolitan Area Networks.

BT said it will use SIRO’s network to offer its wholesale, corporate and public customers access to its FTTB network.

Shay Walsh, managing director, BT Ireland, added: “Since entering the market in the 1990s, BT has brought much-needed competition to the communications sector in Ireland, creating more choice for Irish organisations looking for services to help them expand within Ireland or abroad. 

"This new agreement with SIRO adds to our access network reach, giving us a greater choice of networks to offer our clients around the country.”



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