The British incumbent won what it labelled a “highly competitive” tender process to secure the multi-year wholesale deal, which will see it provide managed services to Sky including backhaul and voice over IP (VoIP) services.
BT Ireland and Sky already have an existing agreement that sees the former provide managed services, broadband and fixed line products in Ireland, and this has now been extended, BT said.
Shay Walsh, managing director, BT Ireland, said: “We are delighted that Sky Ireland chose BT to support the next phase of its rollout of next generation broadband technology. It’s great news for the market in general, because competition brings choice and now consumers and businesses will have more providers to choose from for phone and broadband services.”
The deal will see BT support Sky’s deployment of ultrafast broadband services in Ireland, including rural homes that will be covered by the country’s National Broadband Plan. It is the largest single deal BT Ireland has ever signed, according to reports from Irish media outlets.
JD Buckley, managing director of Sky Ireland, said: “This deal with BT reflects our continued commitment to investment in infrastructure in Ireland and will mean our customers can avail of the highest fibre speeds in the country across the widest possible footprint.
“It will also allow us to bring fibre to currently underserved rural customers as part of the Government’s National Broadband Plan.”
