E-net, the company that manages the Government's metropolitan area networks (MANs) in 27 towns around the State, has signed a €17 million deal with Vodafone Ireland to provide high-capacity fibre optic connectivity.
Under the deal Vodafone will be able to offer greater coverage and to a large proportion of its regional and rural transmission sites across the country.
The 15-year deal will not improve the 7 megabits per second speed of Vodafone’s broadband or increase its coverage of 88 per cent of the population.
However, a spokeswoman said the agreement will enhance the current service, meaning download speeds were less likely to slow as users increase.