Residents in Longford are set to benefit from high speed fibre broadband thanks to a new scheme roll out.

Surveying is well underway in several areas of Longford in preparation for the National Broadband Ireland (NBI) scheme.

In Longford, there are 8,698 premises in the Intervention Area (IA), which includes homes, farms, commercial businesses and schools. This equates to 39% of all premises in the county. Under the National Broadband Plan, Longford will see an investment of €34 million in the new high speed fibre network. This will enable e-learning, remote monitoring of livestock or equipment, e-health initiatives, better energy efficiency in the home, and facilitate increased levels of remote working.

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NBI crews have made substantial progress in Longford, where the following areas have been surveyed: Granard, Ballybrien, Graffoge, Ballymaurice, Abbeylara, Derragh, Tonywarden, Toneen, Castlebrock, Kilcourcey, Asnagh, Lisryan, Balloo, Coolamber, Ringowney, Kiltykeary, Lisnageeragh, Culloge, Moondarragh, Cartronreagh, Bracklon, Aghafin, Curry, Cam, Clonwhelan, Edgeworthstown, Garryandrew, Shantum, Gneeve, Lissanure, Garryconnell, Carnan, and Cornapark.

These initial works pave the way for the next stage of deploying fibre on poles/ducts and includes the erection of poles, unblocking of ducts, and the insertion of sub duct into existing ducts, for the fibre to be installed.

All NBI contractors will also carry official ID cards and essential worker letters and have received training on adhering to all Covid 19 guidelines. They will have vehicles, PPE, and signage with both their own, and NBI logos.