Sky Ireland boosts broadband services through wholesale deal with Virgin Media

Partnership allows Sky to enhance its offer to customers and comes amid a €200m network upgrade by Virgin

Virgin Media Ireland chief executive Tony Hanway (left) and Sky Ireland chief executive JD Buckley at the announcement of a new network access partnership. Photograph: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Virgin Media Ireland chief executive Tony Hanway (left) and Sky Ireland chief executive JD Buckley at the announcement of a new network access partnership. Photograph: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Sky Ireland has struck a wholesale broadband network-access deal with Virgin Media Ireland that it says will “significantly enhance” the services available to its customers.

Under the new partnership, Sky Ireland will use Virgin Media’s superfast fibre broadband infrastructure to “provide even more options to Irish consumers”, it said.

The Virgin Media network passes one million premises across Ireland, making it one of the most extensive and reliable broadband networks in the State. It is currently engaged in a €200 million upgrade to full fibre that will support speeds of up to 10Gbps across the network by the end of 2025. To date, it has upgraded more than 250,000 premises to fibre.

“This partnership with Virgin Media Ireland allows us to offer our customers even more choice when it comes to full-fibre broadband. Sky now has partnerships with every full-fibre broadband provider in Ireland,” said Sky Ireland chief executive JD Buckley.

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“This new partnership highlights our shared commitment to provide Irish consumers with a wider choice of high-quality services and the best broadband experience.”

Virgin Media Ireland chief executive Tony Hanway welcomed Sky as a wholesale network partner.

“This further development forms part of our comprehensive ongoing commitment towards Ireland’s digital progress, enhancing overall competition and service delivery for consumers, businesses and communities nationwide.”

Sky Ireland’s latest full-fibre broadband service will be available to customers from October 31st. The company is owned by US cable giant Comcast, while Virgin is part of Liberty Global, a multinational controlled by US billionaire John Malone.

Laura Slattery

Laura Slattery

Laura Slattery is an Irish Times journalist writing about media, advertising and other business topics