Ireland Telecom - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

Key Highlights

• Ireland’s telecommunications sector has witnessed a significant transformation in recent years, with numerous telecom companies vying for attention in this competitive market. From traditional landline services to cutting-edge fiber-optic networks, businesses have a plethora of options.
• Dublin City Council established a 'Telecoms Unit' in April 2022 to centralize and consolidate telecommunications and digital infrastructure functions into a dedicated unit within the City Council. The unit is a one-stop-shop for all telecoms-related activities, providing a single point of contact for citizens, industry, and other public bodies to engage with.
• In the fiber telecoms industry, organic growth is generally achieved through evolutions in the hardware and software that light the fiber. Better speeds can be achieved through improvements in the technology. For example, Enet is able to deploy 100 Gbps technology on existing national fiber networks in the country, and it is in the process of deploying 400 Gbps over these same networks.
• The challenge the industry in Ireland needs to meet is the availability of suitable underlying fiber. This fiber needs to reach a certain quality threshold if the full power of 800 Gbps can be achieved. Simultaneously, government policies and the regulatory framework are vital to facilitate a conducive environment for such technological investment. ComReg, in September 2022 (following consent of the Minister for Environment, Climate, and Communications), also adopted the Wireless Telegraphy (Liberalised Use and Related Licences in the 700 MHz Duplex, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz, and 2.6 GHz Bands) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI 483/2022).
• After the COVID-19 pandemic, the B2B network powered the modern ways of working and helped support SMEs' transition to a remote and hybrid working environment. Players focused more on investment in telephony services. The cloud-based VoIP provider IP Telecom aimed to reach EUR 11 million (USD 11.98 million) in revenue in 2024 and expand its telephony services. The company secured EUR 6 million (USD 6.53 million) to fuel its growth and acquisition plans to increase its revenue. The company adopted its own hybrid working model after the pandemic.

Ireland Telecom Market Trends

Wireless Services are Expected to Grow

• Wireless communications transmit voice and data without cables or wires. According to Elio Networks, wireless broadband provision is vital to Ireland’s growth and retention of foreign direct investment (FDI). Elio Networks is investing and building infrastructure across Cork, which will be followed by further investment and a launch in Limerick and Galway before the end of the year.
• Rural areas in Ireland have long faced difficulties with patchy internet access. Fixed wireless broadband provides a one-way solution to this problem. One notable major advantage of fixed wireless is its affordability. Without the requirement for extensive cabling, the costs are considerably reduced.
• Ireland was one of the first countries to assign the spectrum in the 3.4 GHz - 4.2 GHz band, C-band spectrum, which is considered a vital spot for 5G as it strikes a proper balance between capacity and coverage. The number of 5G subscriptions has been on the rise in Ireland. As per ComReg, there were 988,164 5G mobile subscriptions in Q4 2022, which was a 152% year-on-year increase, accounting for around 11.1% of all subscriptions in the country.
• Three Ireland’s 5G network covers approximately 85% of the Irish population. To expand the pool of major 5G users, in January 2023, Three Ireland, as one of the first Irish mobile operators, offered its 5G to all customers as standard with no additional fee, initially to new customers. Three Ireland also partnered with Technological University Shannon (TUS) to trial 5G Standalone technology and begin showcasing its capabilities in real-life scenarios.
• The rollout of 5G in Ireland has begun using frequencies in the lower RF bands (first 3.6 GHz and later 700 MHz). It is realized that the 26 GHz band and higher frequencies may be used in the future, thereby increasing the demand for wireless connectivity.

OTT Services Hold a Significant Share

• The onset of over-the-top (OTT) distribution, which gave rise to direct-to-consumer (DTC) services, is one of the most significant recent changes in the media value chain. There are 33 OTT Video startups in Ireland, including The Rugby Network, WiiStream, Live Football, MyCast App, and Digisoft.tv.
• TV operators have also entered the OTT industry by providing 'TV everywhere' access, allowing users to consume live and on-demand content both inside and outside their homes (e.g., Sky Go, Virgin TV Anywhere, etc.), and by building their video-on-demand (VOD) solutions. The sports OTT market in Ireland has shown particular growth and is highly competitive.
• According to an industry expert, YouTube's usage share is projected to account for approximately 22% of the video streaming (SVoD) market in Ireland in 2024. Ireland's OTT video market is experiencing a surge in local content production, catering to the growing demand for authentic Irish storytelling.
• Better broadband connectivity provides new ways to distribute and monetize content. More people are purchasing 'skinny bundles,' which are basically reduced-priced subscriptions to TV channels or content packages offered by cable, satellite, and OTT providers such as BT Sport, Netflix, and eir Sport. All of these new distribution mechanisms cater to long-standing business needs, which are boosting the market studied.

Ireland Telecom Industry Overview

• March 2024: IP Telecom acquired Centrecom Systems Limited for an undisclosed sum as the company targets a leadership position in the telecom market. Centrecom expertise will help expand IP Telecom’s services, which already include cloud-based voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and unified communications telephony services for business customers in Ireland.
• December 2023: Three, Ireland’s largest mobile network, is the first Irish operator to launch the next evolution of 5G, 5G Standalone, which has the potential to accelerate innovation across industries and unlock exciting possibilities for businesses and consumers.

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• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
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