Pure Telecom announces demand for ultra-high-speed broadband soars by almost 400%

Pure Telecom, the Irish-owned high-speed broadband and telecoms provider, has announced a near-400% increase in demand for Fibre to the Home broadband for the most recent quarter of 2021, versus the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, fixed line connections have more than doubled. The figures reflect the vital role of reliable high-speed fixed line broadband to facilitate people working, gaming and streaming from home.

Pure Telecom’s figures show the sharp rise in demand for Fibre to the Home (FTTH), providing broadband speeds of up to one gigabit, since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Many office workers are continuing to work from home on a permanent or part-time basis, despite the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

Meanwhile, subscriptions to streaming services continue to rise and online games, such as Fortnite and League of Legends, are growing in popularity. A survey carried out by Pure Telecom last year showed that 91% of adults in Ireland use streaming services, while 67% report to be online gamers.

As a result, sales of Fibre to the Home broadband have increased by 374% when Q3 2021 is compared to the same period in 2019. It now represents more than half of Pure Telecom’s broadband sales. Non-fibre sales, meanwhile, now represent just 6% of Pure’s broadband sales, versus 17% in Q3 2019.

The greater demand for faster broadband has led to an increase in new fixed line connections, too. Compared to Q3 2019, new line connections – which are required to get the fastest broadband speeds – increased by 48%.

The figures also reflect progress in the rollout of high-speed broadband across Ireland. Through its agreements with Ireland’s biggest wholesale broadband providers, Pure Telecom now has access to more than 1.1 million homes and businesses across Ireland, compared to more than 610,000 in Q3 2019.

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “Despite the easing of COVID restrictions, we are seeing no sign of things returning to how they were pre-pandemic. People have been empowered to find the work style that makes them most productive and gives them the best work/life balance. They expect their broadband service to facilitate that and as a result, mobile connections just don’t cut it anymore. We therefore expect the demand for fixed line connections and Fibre to the Home to continue at the same rate for the foreseeable future.

“What is absolutely critical for this new way of working and living is the rollout of high-speed broadband across Ireland. Pure Telecom is signed up to the National Broadband Ireland network to ensure that as soon as fibre broadband is available, we are there and will be able to deliver it to more people.”

Fibre to the Home gives users the fastest broadband speeds available, as it is delivered via copper or fibre optic cables directly to the premises, rather than to a nearby cabinet or via a wireless connection. It can reach speeds of up to one gigabit.

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