Internet Coverage and Usage in Ireland 2025

Introduction

This chapter looks at the type of internet connectivity that households have, analysed by household type, among other things. In this survey, respondents were asked about the types of internet connection they have at home. They may have a fixed broadband connection (such as cable, optical fibre, satellite, etc.), mobile broadband connection (via the mobile phone network with minimum 3G, for example, where they are using SIM or USB key, mobile phone or smartphone, as modem), or in some cases, narrowband connection (dial‐up access over normal telephone line, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), or mobile narrowband connection of less than 3G). People may have more than one type of internet connection at home, and this chapter covers household internet access and type of connection used.

This chapter will highlight that fixed broadband is the most popular type of internet connectivity, with almost all households with children having internet access. For those households without internet connectivity, over half stated they don’t need access to the internet as a reason for not having internet access in their house.

Key findings of households with internet access

In 2025, 95% of households have an internet connection, up one percentage point from the same period in 2024.

Household internet connectivity was highest for the Dublin region at 97%, compared with 93% of households in the Border, Mid-West, and South-East regions.

Almost all households with dependent children have internet access. This compares with just 88% of sole occupancy households comprised of one adult with no dependent children.

Fixed broadband is the most common type of internet access in the household (87% of households compared with 29% using mobile broadband).

Fixed broadband connection is highest in the Dublin region, where over nine in ten (91%) households have fixed broadband. By comparison, the Border region has the lowest level of fixed broadband connection (80%).

Mobile broadband internet connection was most common in households made up of just one adult with no dependent children, at 35% of these households, while fixed broadband connectivity had 79% penetration for these households.

Please note: More than one type of internet connection may be used in households.

Of the 5% of households with no internet access, the most common reason given was that they did not need the internet (59%), followed by lack of skills (17%). Just 4% of these households with no internet access stated that broadband internet was not available in their area.

Please note: More than one reason may have been selected by respondents.