Eircom is rolling out its fibre broadband to more rural areas of Ireland, adding 300,000 premises in more than 1,000 communities throughout the State.

That includes 300 communities that currently have no access to high-speed broadband, the company said. Among the areas included in the latest roll out are Fybagh, Co Kerry; Blacksod, Co Mayo; Goleen, Co Cork; Maam, Co Galway; and Ring, Co Waterford.

It will bring to 1.9 million the number of businesses and homes that have access to Eircom’s fibre broadband, as part of a €400 million investment in the infrastructure over the next five years. The company is aiming to cover 70 per cent of the population by the end of next year, rising to 80 per cent by 2020.

"This is a critical development as we build a future proofed network using a best in class technology to deliver the highest broadband speeds to many rural communities right across Ireland," said Eircom chief executive Richard Moat. "By making high speed broadband available to as many people as possible, today's announcement also reduces the intervention footprint under the Government's National Broadband Plan, thereby reducing the burden for the taxpayer at a time where there is enormous demands for Exchequer funding."