Government takes next step to reduce the cost of high-speed broadband roll-out

• Minister Patrick O'Donovan launches public consultation seeking views from network operators, public bodies and local authorities.
• Online consultation opens on 19 December and closes on 11 February 2026

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan TD, has launched a public consultation on discretions to the Gigabit Infrastructure Act.

The Gigabit Infrastructure Act aims to hasten the rollout and reduce the cost of deploying very high capacity telecoms networks (VHCNs) by improving access to existing physical infrastructure and by enabling a more efficient deployment of new physical infrastructure.

Minister Patrick O'Donovan said:

"The Gigabit Infrastructure Act will play an important role in delivering on the Government's Digital Connectivity Strategy to have all Irish households and businesses covered by a Gigabit network by 2028. It will promote cross-sectoral sharing of existing physical infrastructure and enhance the coordination of civil works while also streamlining administrative processes."

The Minister commissioned an expert report and engaged with relevant stakeholders to identify infrastructure that may be excluded from obligations to make information relating to this infrastructure available in electronic format via a Single Information Point (SIP). Obligations may not apply where physical infrastructure is technically unsuitable for the deployment of VHCNs or where the obligations to provide information about certain types of infrastructure would be disproportionate. This consultation asks interested stakeholders to submit their views on the conclusions of the expert report.

The public consultation can be accessed https://gov.ie/GIAArt4 The consultation period will run from 19 December 2025 to 11 February 2026.

A further consultation relating to the Gigabit Infrastructure Act on in-building physical infrastructure and fibre wiring specifications is expected to be launched early next year.