eir evo has announced its successful award of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) Satellite Connectivity Tender.

The announcement was made at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, where key stakeholders gathered to mark a major milestone in Ireland's digital infrastructure strategy.

Under the seven-year contract, eir evo will deliver satellite connectivity to an initial 21 sites, with the potential to scale to 300 locations. The initiative is designed to enhance the resilience of public services in remote and island communities, particularly in response to significant climate-related disruptions such as Storm Éowyn.

Deployment will begin with island locations, including Inishturk, where the OGCIO and healthcare teams are already engaged in rollout planning. The satellite network will serve as a critical backup to terrestrial telecoms, supporting emergency services, healthcare continuity and local hubs in areas where traditional infrastructure is vulnerable or unavailable.

As part of the agreement, eir evo has partnered with Eutelsat to deliver satellite services to the Irish Government. The OGCIO contract ensures that eir evo is the channel for delivering Eutelsat satellite services to Government entities in Ireland. Eutelsat's European footprint and advanced satellite capabilities bring technological excellence to the partnership, positioning Ireland at the forefront of resilient digital infrastructure in Europe.

Susan Brady, Managing Director of eir evo, commented: "Storm Éowyn was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by our remote communities. At eir evo, we believe connectivity is not just about access, it's about resilience, continuity and safety. Securing the OGCIO Satellite Connectivity partnership is a proud moment for us. It reflects our commitment to building infrastructure that can withstand the challenges of climate change and support critical public services when they're needed most."

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers, welcomed the announcement, saying: "I think it is particularly appropriate that we are making this announcement here at the National Ploughing Championships, which of course is not just a celebration of rural life and culture in Ireland but also an opportunity to explore the latest innovations that are already transforming the industry and will continue to support the future of agriculture.

"Initiatives such as the high-speed network and satellite services and the new data centre in Backweston will help us transform our public services by ensuring they have the modern infrastructure they need to work securely and reliably, no matter where people live or what challenges arise.

"The new National Low Latency Platform is a secure, high-speed network connecting government bodies across Ireland and is now fully operational. Funded through the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the network stretches from Westport to Waterford, and Cork to Dundalk, helping public services work faster and more reliably."

Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, Emer Higgins, also attended the launch of the new technology and said: "These projects are about building strong foundations for Ireland's future. Our emergency services do a fantastic job in circumstances that can be very challenging. I am delighted to announce the delivery of the new high speed, secure communications network which will ensure emergency teams can stay connected in the most remote areas, helping people stay safe especially during bad weather or emergencies."

Cyril Dujardin, President of the Connectivity Business Unit at Eutelsat, said: "Together with our partner eir evo, we are strengthening Ireland's communications backbone with the resilience of our OneWeb constellation. This capability ensures that emergency services, healthcare providers and community hubs ...