Scientists at Durham University have developed a theoretical framework to predict the efficacy of quenching of electrical pulses in excitable media, such as those found in the human heart. This breakthrough could significantly accelerate the development of more efficient defibrillation techniques for treating cardiac arrhythmias.

Quenching electrical waves in the heart

The study, published in Physical Review E, addresses a longstanding challenge in understanding how stable excitation waves in systems like cardiac tissue can be effectively neutralised through small changes. These electrical waves, when irregular, are thought to underly serious conditions such as fibrillation, where the heart fails to pump blood effectively.

The research provides a way to predict the smallest possible interventions required to restore the system to a stable resting state and permit the normal rhythm to reassert itself. The study bridges a crucial gap in understanding how to disrupt harmful excitation waves with minimal energy input, especially in the earliest stages of defibrillation through direct intervention.

Lead researcher Dr Christopher Marcotte of Durham University's Department of Computer Science said: "Predicting how small changes to carefully tuned states develop over time underlies much of our understanding of complex phenomena, from turbulence to weather; similar predictions for dynamically robust states, like fully developed electrical waves in the heart, requires further insight into the larger structures of these systems and how they interact.

"By predicting the boundaries for efficacious interventions in the propagation of these electrical waves, we provide additional tools for defibrillation researchers."

The team developed a linear theory capable of predicting 'quenching perturbations' - small changes that return an unstable system to its resting state. This method improves upon traditional brute-force approaches by using computationally efficient semi-analytical techniques, inspired by similar approaches developed for the ignition - or starting excitation - of these waves.

This research focus on predicting suppression offers fresh insights into how to halt erratic electrical activity in tissues. Using this framework, the researchers tested their predictions against various mathematical models of excitable media, including those simulating cardiac electrical activity. The theory proved highly effective, showing qualitative and, in many cases, quantitative agreement with direct numerical simulations.

Defibrillation, the medical procedure to restore normal heart rhythms, typically involves applying a strong electrical shock to disrupt fibrillation. This study opens the door to refining these techniques by targeting specific regions of the heart with smaller, more precise electrical pulses. This could lower energy requirements, reducing the risk of tissue damage and making treatments more patient-friendly.

However, the researchers caution that quenching excitation waves is inherently more energy-intensive than initiating them as the latter rely on stored chemical energy in the tissue, which presents challenges for direct practical implementation.

Despite these challenges, the research findings lay the groundwork for innovations in low-energy defibrillation strategies and may augment emerging techniques like the Low-Energy Atrial Pacing (LEAP) method. To encourage further exploration, the researchers have made their methodology and data openly available online. By providing access to their code, they hope to foster collaboration and spur additional advances in this critical area of medical science.

Source

Predicting effective quenching of stable pulses in slow-fast excitable media', (2024), Christopher Marcotte, Physical Review E.

An embargoed copy of the paper is available from Durham University Communications Office. Please email [email protected].

uk.

About Durham University

Durham University is a globally outstan...

Provizio, the leader in mobility safety, has expanded its automotive portfolio with their software-defined antenna reference board using radar technology from Texas Instruments, a global pioneer in semiconductor technology. Provizio is on a mission to make mobility safer and more intelligent through affordable, advanced perception imaging radar that works reliably in challenging weather conditions.

Provizio's cutting-edge software defined antenna solution uses the AWR2944 radar sensor from Texas Instruments. This solution sets a new benchmark for advanced imaging radar perception and safety systems in the rapidly evolving automotive landscape.

At the heart of this imaging radar system is the integration of Provizio's MIMSO Software Defined Antenna Reference Design with the single-chip 77GHz 4D Imaging Radar chip from Texas Instruments. This innovative design transforms a single radar SoC into 48 virtual receiver channels, achieving sub 0.5° angular resolution and enabling precise detection and tracking of objects, including pedestrians, cars, and trucks. Powered by Provizio's proprietary MIMSO and SPTDMA technologies, the design delivers 20x higher resolution from a single chip, addressing critical challenges of cost and performance in high-performance radar systems.

The design is on display at CES 2025 with a live vehicle demonstration at Provizio's Westgate Hotel suite location, along with the reference design shown in TI's booth in the Las Vegas Convention Center in North Hall, N116.

Transforming automotive safety and perception

The inclusion of this reference design is vital for advancing safety in mobility by making it generally available for automotive & industrial OEMs and Tier 1s. By delivering precise, real-time detection and tracking of objects such as pedestrians and vehicles, it enhances a vehicle's ability to respond to potential hazards. This innovation is a key step towards significantly reducing the risk of accidents, building added trust in autonomous technology, and supporting the development of safer, more reliable transportation systems.

Speaking on the announcement, Barry Lunn, CEO & Co-Founder of Provizio said: "We have known for some time that 4D Imaging radar is key to unlocking safer driving and next generation ADAS, however cost has been a key challenge that has held back rollout across all vehicles. This work between Provizio and TI balances the perception and system cost challenges of high-performance imaging radar."

Lunn added: "To achieve 0.5deg angular resolution using just a single TI radar chip is a testament to the proprietary antenna innovation of the Provizio development team and also the embedded power of the TI radar SoC."

Dedicated to enable scalable advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving solutions, Provizio develops the future of radar.

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Much like the invention of the printing press transformed how knowledge was shared, AI and fintech are rewriting the rules of finance. Where once only a few controlled the flow of information, today, these technologies are breaking down barriers in banking, driving efficiency, reshaping customer experiences, and creating entirely new ways of doing business. What we're witnessing isn't just an evolution of systems; it's a revolution.

This article digs into how AI and fintech are shaping the future of global finance, exploring their impact, the challenges they face, and the trends steering the industry forward.

Impact of AI and Fintech on Global Finances

AI and fintech have evolved from mere buzzwords to fundamental pillars of modern finance. Their integration has revolutionized financial systems, ushering in a new era of efficiency, innovation, and customer-centric solutions. According to recent market reports, the global fintech market will be valued at $340 billion in 2024 and grow at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.5% to reach over 1 trillion by 2032. At the core of this transformation is artificial intelligence (AI), which underpins many of these advancements by driving automation, improving accuracy, and enhancing decision-making processes across the financial sector.

The impact of AI and fintech can be seen across several key areas. Efficiency has significantly improved as AI-powered algorithms streamline processes that were traditionally time consuming and prone to human error. These innovations reduce operational costs and allow financial institutions to allocate resources more effectively.

Another critical area of impact is security. With the rise of cyber threats and fraudulent activities, AI has become indispensable in strengthening fraud detection systems and cybersecurity measures. By analyzing patterns and detecting anomalies in real-time, AI ensures robust protection for financial institutions and their customers.

Customer experience has also been revolutionized. Fintech platforms now use AI to deliver highly personalized solutions that cater to individual needs, from tailored financial advice to AI-driven chatbots offering round-the-clock support. This personalization fosters deeper trust and engagement between customers and financial service providers.

Furthermore, AI and fintech act as catalysts for innovation. Emerging technologies such as blockchain and predictive analytics are increasingly adopted, opening up new business opportunities to optimize operations and create novel financial products. These advancements collectively highlight the transformative potential of AI and fintech in shaping a dynamic and inclusive global financial landscape.

Key Applications of AI in Fintech

The fusion of AI and fintech has revolutionized financial operations in profound ways. Real-time data analysis has transformed fraud detection, with AI systems now capable of identifying subtle patterns and anomalies in transactions that traditional monitoring tools might miss. These sophisticated systems adapt continuously through machine learning, staying ahead of evolving cybercrime tactics while integrating seamlessly with biometric authentication and other security measures to create comprehensive protection across digital and traditional banking environments.

Beyond security, AI has redefined customer interactions in financial services. Financial institutions now offer deeply personalized experiences through AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants that handle complex queries around the clock. These systems go beyond basic service to analyze customer sentiment and anticipate needs, creating intuitive interfaces that strengthen client relationships through proactive solution offerings.

The technology's impact extends into the core of financial decision-making, where predictive analytics now guide everything from risk assessment to portfolio management. Financial institutions leverage historical data to...

Guest post by Gary Coffey, Chief Technology Officer at Spectrum.Life

As technology continues to evolve, the potential for digital health will only grow. Moving into 2025, the health-tech sector is poised for transformative growth, driven by breakthroughs in AI, advanced data insights, and a shift toward predictive, personalised care. This evolution is expected to redefine digital health, with the global market projected to surpass $200 billion, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25%.

Key innovations - AI diagnostics, wearable technology, and predictive insights - are set to revolutionise care delivery by shifting the focus from treating illnesses to preventing them. The emphasis will move from reactive treatments to proactive health management, empowering individuals and reshaping industry dynamics.

Digitising Disconnected Journeys

One of the most significant transformations in 2025 will be the effort to digitise disconnected care journeys that currently fall outside the digital health operating system. Many patient experiences - such as specialist referrals, non-urgent follow-ups, or mental health pathways - remain fragmented and poorly integrated into broader healthcare ecosystems.

Insurers are set to play a pivotal role in addressing these gaps, recognising a broader mandate within their digital transformation programs. By aligning these efforts with their mobile app strategies, insurers aim to bring disconnected journeys into a cohesive, accessible framework.

For example, through digitised pathways, a user might seamlessly transition from completing a virtual health assessment on their mobile app to scheduling an in-person consultation, with all relevant medical history shared automatically. This connectivity ensures a smoother, more integrated experience while reducing redundancies and delays in care delivery.

This shift is not just about convenience; it reflects a strategic effort to build a digital health operating system where every touchpoint contributes to holistic, patient-centered care.

The Rise of Predictive and Personalised Care

2025 will mark significant advancements in predictive and personalised healthcare. Predictive insights will take centre stage, transforming raw data into clear, actionable explanations that enable healthcare providers and insurers to make informed decisions.

This approach represents a move from traditional, reactive healthcare models to preventive, user-focused strategies. By leveraging AI and actionable insights, health-tech solutions will deliver timely interventions throughout the patient's journey.

Care Pathway Builders: Empowering Customised Care

Care pathway builders will also become increasingly important in 2025. Insurers' digital teams will gain the ability to build and modify care pathways, supported by platforms from trusted technology partners. This hands-on approach will enable tailored pathways and ensure governance models that are responsive to patient needs and industry trends.

AI's Expanding Role in Healthcare

Artificial Intelligence will remain a cornerstone of health-tech innovations in 2025, with its applications expanding across diagnostics, treatment planning, and operational workflows. AI-powered imaging analysis will improve diagnostic accuracy, while automated systems for routine tasks, such as patient documentation, will alleviate staff shortages and burnout.

AI-driven insights will also play a critical role in real-time patient monitoring. Predictive algorithms will turn complex health metrics into simple, actionable insights - for instance: "Heart rate irregularities detected in the past 48 hours indicate a potential arrhythmia risk. Immediate follow-up is advised." Such transparency will enable healthcare providers to intervene earlier, improving outcomes and reducing strain on healthcare systems.

The Digital Health Operating System

The concept of a digital health operating system will gain further traction in 2025. Digital platforms will ...

Dell Technologies has today announced a new, simplified AI PC portfolio featuring on-device AI for greater end-user creativity and productivity. To accelerate AI PC adoption across Irish businesses, Dell is also providing developers and IT administrators with the tools to seamlessly build and deploy AI applications to Dell AI PCs.

As the number one provider of commercial AI PCs, Dell is expanding its portfolio with new product designs, increased performance and battery life, the latest silicon innovation and AI accelerators, and industry-leading capabilities across software, management, and sustainability. Dell has unified its brand across PCs, displays, services and accessories to make it even easier for customers to find the right technology solutions they need today and in the future.

"The PC is the most important personal productivity device of our lifetime, and it is being transformed by AI," said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO, Dell Technologies. "Dell has driven PC innovation for the last 40 years and we are well positioned for this moment. Our new, streamlined portfolio of AI PCs is here to deliver the future of computing."

Unified brand and simplified choices

Buying a PC can be a complex experience, with multiple factors to consider - brands, models, form factors, performance, graphics, storage and materials. In fact, 74% of consumers walked away from technology purchases simply because they felt overwhelmed.

Dell's new branding puts the highly trusted Dell name front and center with three PC categories:

Dell: Designed for play, school, and work.

Dell Pro: Designed for professional-grade productivity.

Dell Pro Max: Designed for maximum performance.

The Dell and Dell Pro product lines extend to displays, accessories and services for consistent customer experience across the entire client portfolio. For example, the Dell Pro 13/14 Premium is a Copilot+ PC with a sleek and lightweight laptop option for executives, sales managers and consultants who value performance and portability on the go. It's available in 13- and 14-inch display sizes and is the slimmest and lightest of the Pro portfolio, starting at only 2.36 pounds. The Dell Pro Premium delivers up to 21.2 hours of battery life[iv] and 51% more run time than its predecessor.[v]

Dell Pro Max PCs pack high-end performance in a portable, lightweight, and modern design, with Dell Pro Max Plus and Premium models coming later this year. The all-new 16-inch size provides expansive screen real estate and supports complex and high-performance applications on-the-go. The spacious display offers up to QHD+ resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio and an optional touch screen.

"Dell's strategy to shift to simple, descriptive naming across its PC, ecosystem solutions and services portfolio brings significant value to customers amidst a complex and evolving AI PC landscape," said Pat Moorhead, President, Moor Insights & Strategy. "Alongside new silicon options from AMD, in addition to Intel and Qualcomm, and new PC designs, Dell is well positioned to offer choice and help organizations futureproof for the AI era."

Powering AI PCs for specific workloads

Dell provides the latest silicon choices across its new portfolio while removing guesswork and complexity for end-users and businesses.

New Dell AI PCs [link to blog] offer built-in NPU technology to deliver AI performance suited to specific workload needs. Dell builds upon its extensive Intel lineup by adding Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors, expands AMD options with AMD Ryzen processors and continues working with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to offer customers the right devices for the right use-cases.

The combined hardware, software and silicon innovations broaden powerful on-device Copilot+ PC experiences to reach more customers.

With new devices across Dell, Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max, offering multi-day battery life, users can stay productive longer and enjoy modern and professional grade designs that withstand rigorous daily ...

Digital transformation is revolutionising the healthcare industry as modern technologies such as smartphones and tablets are being utilised. One person who knows this area well is Stephen Costello, Spectrum Life CEO and Co-founder and Ronan recently spoke to him.

Stephen talks about his background, covid, what Spectrum Life does, mental health and more.

More about Stephen Costello:

Stephen Costello is CEO and Co-Founder of Spectrum Life, founding the company alongside Stuart McGoldrick in 2018. Stephen graduated from UCD in 2014 with a degree in Economics and Politics and has a postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing.

Stephen's passions include commercial innovation go-to-market strategies and technology changes in the mental health space. Stephen's major passion is leading a company of highly dedicated professionals across the UK and Ireland who are all on a joint mission of changing and saving as many lives as possible.

Stephen was awarded joint Entrepreneur of the Year at Early Career awards in 2022, celebrating achievements of awardees aged 35 or younger.

See more stories here.

Looking halfway across the observable universe and expecting to see individual stars is considered a non-starter in astronomy, a bit like raising a pair of binoculars at the moon in hopes of making out individual grains of dust inside its craters. Thanks to a cosmic quirk of nature, however, an international team led by astronomers at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory did just that.

Unseen stars beyond Dragon Arc

Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, the research group observed a galaxy nearly 6.5 billion light-years from Earth, at a time when the universe was half its current age. In this distant galaxy, the team identified a large number of individual stars, made visible thanks to an effect known as gravitational lensing and JWST's high light collecting power.

Published in the journal Nature Astronomy, the discovery marks a record-breaking achievement - the largest number of individual stars detected in the distant universe. It also provides a way to investigate one of the universe's greatest mysteries - dark matter.

Most galaxies, including the Milky Way, contain tens of billions of stars. In nearby galaxies such as the Andromeda galaxy, astronomers can observe stars one by one. However, in galaxies billions of light-years away, stars appear blended together as their light needs to travel for billions of light-years before it reaches us, presenting a long-standing challenge to scientists studying how galaxies form and evolve.

"To us, galaxies that are very far away usually look like a diffuse, fuzzy blob," said lead study author Yoshinobu Fudamoto, an assistant professor at Chiba University in Japan and a visiting scholar at Steward Observatory. "But actually, those blobs consist of many, many individual stars. We just can't resolve them with our telescopes."

Recent advances in astronomy have opened new possibilities by leveraging gravitational lensing - a natural magnification effect caused by the strong gravitational fields of massive objects. As predicted by Albert Einstein, gravitational lenses can amplify the light of distant stars by factors of hundreds or even thousands, making them detectable with sensitive instruments like JWST.

"These findings have typically been limited to just one or two stars per galaxy," Fudamoto said. "To study stellar populations in a statistically meaningful way, we need many more observations of individual stars."

Fengwu Sun, a former U of A graduate student who is now a postdoctoral scholar at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, stumbled on a treasure trove of such stars when he was inspecting JWST images of a galaxy known as the Dragon Arc, located along the line of sight from Earth behind a massive cluster of galaxies called Abell 370. Due to its gravitational lensing effect, Abell 370 stretches the Dragon Arc's signature spiral into an elongated shape - like a hall of mirrors of cosmic proportions.

In December 2022 and 2023, JWST obtained two pictures of the Dragon Arc. Within these images, astronomers counted 44 individual stars whose brightness changed over time due to variations in the gravitational lensing landscape.

"This groundbreaking discovery demonstrates, for the first time, that studying large numbers of individual stars in a distant galaxy is possible," Sun said - as long as nature is there to lend a helping hand.

However, even extremely strong gravitational magnification from a galaxy cluster is not sufficient to magnify individual stars in galaxies even farther away. In this case, the discovery was made possible by a serendipitous alignment of "lucky stars."

"Inside the galaxy cluster, there are many stars floating around that are not bound by any galaxy," said co-author Eiichi Egami, a research professor at Steward Observatory. "When one of them happens to pass in front of the background star in the distant galaxy along the line of sight with Earth, it acts as a microlens, in addition to the macrolensing effect of the galaxy ...

Physicists studying a distant galaxy using a telescopic technique called gravitational lensing, or telescopic magnification, have discovered over 40 previously unknown stars. The discovery, published in Nature Astronomy, shows how these stars were behaving eight billion years ago, giving a glimpse into the population of stars at 'cosmic noon' - the Middle Ages of the Universe.

The research was led by the Centre for Frontier Science at Chiba University, in Japan, and involved over 45 international partners. In the UK this was led by Durham University's Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy and involved the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Manchester University.

New telescopic magnification trick to discover over 40 new stars

The international team used observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and gravitational lensing to study a galaxy known as the Dragon Arc, located behind a massive cluster of galaxies called Abell 370. In gravitational lensing a foreground galaxy cluster bends the light from a more distant object and magnifies it, allowing scientists to study the distant object (here the Dragon Arc galaxy). Due to its gravitational lensing effect, Abell 370 stretches the Dragon Arc's signature spiral into an elongated shape - like a hall of mirrors of cosmic proportions.

Using this technique, and high-resolution images from the JWST, taken across a full year, the team was able to identify 44 previously unknown stars in the Dragon Arc. They observed that the brightness of these individual stars changed over the course of the study due to variations in the gravitational lensing landscape. The findings show what this galaxy is made of in a way not previously achieved. They also tell us more about dark matter - a mysterious substance that binds together galaxies, creating the environment for stars, planets and life to exist.

Dr David Lagattuta from the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy at Durham University said: "When the team made this discovery, we knew that, given the size of the dots seen in the JWST images, the most logical explanation was that these were individual stars, seen for the first time, which is a hugely exciting discovery.

"We know these are stars that have not been seen before by comparing them to previous image of the Dragon Arc which do not show these bright dots. "Other possibilities such as these findings being a cluster of stars or exploding supernovae simply did not fit the data.

"It would be a huge coincidence to find so many supernovae all in the same galaxy and all exploding at the same time. Supernovae also tend to suppress star formation, but spectroscopy tells us the Dragon Arc is still actively forming stars. "We also reasoned that these objects had to be individual stars, rather than star clusters, since the size of what we're seeing (after accounting for the extreme lensing magnification) is much too small to fit in the tens of hundreds of bright stars in a star cluster at once.

Many of the stars identified through this study are 'red supergiants', a type of star that has typically been very difficult to identify outside of the Milky Way. This is because they are covered in a layer of cosmic 'dust' making them almost invisible to telescopes. The JWST enabled the research team to peer through this dust more easily, revealing the hidden stars inside.

Professor Mathilde Jauzac from the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy and the Institute for Computational Cosmology at Durham University said: "This is the first time, that we are aware of, that so many stars have been discovered in one cluster. This finding enables us to see what the galaxy is made of in ways not possible before.

"This provides a fascinating and unique view into the behaviour of stars at the critical 'cosmic noon', the Middle Ages of the Universe. "We know that in the early stages of the Universe there is lots of gas and early 'protostars' and then by nine to 10 billion years ago star formation peaks and everythin...

'Not the new normal' - 2024 'one of the worst years in UNICEF's history' for children in conflict

The impact of armed conflicts on children around the world reached devastating and likely record levels in 2024, according to a review by UNICEF of the latest available data and prevailing global trends.

More children than ever are estimated to be either living in conflict zones or forcibly displaced due to conflict and violence. A record number of children affected by conflict are having their rights violated, including by being killed and injured[1], out of school, missing life-saving vaccines, and being critically malnourished. The number is only expected to grow. Conflict drives approximately 80 per cent of all humanitarian needs around the world[2], disrupting access to essentials, including safe water, food and healthcare.

Children in conflict, UNICEF's history

Over 473 million children - more than one in six globally - now live in areas affected by conflict[3], with the world experiencing the highest number of conflicts since World War II[4]. The percentage of the world's children living in conflict zones has doubled - from around 10 per cent in the 1990s to almost 19 per cent today.[5]

By the end of 2023, 47.2 million children had been displaced due to conflict and violence[6], with trends in 2024 indicating additional displacement due to the intensification of conflicts, including in Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, the State of Palestine, and Sudan. Children account for 30 per cent of the global population, yet on average account for roughly 40 per cent of refugee populations and 49 per cent of internally displaced people. [7] In countries affected by conflict, on average over a third of the population are poor (34.8 per cent) compared to just over 10 per cent in non-conflict-affected countries[8].

"By almost every measure, 2024 has been one of the worst years on record for children in conflict in UNICEF's history - both in terms of the number of children affected and the level of impact on their lives," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "A child growing up in a conflict zone is far more likely to be out of school, malnourished, or forced from their home - too often repeatedly - compared to a child living in places of peace. This must not be the new normal. We cannot allow a generation of children to become collateral damage to the world's unchecked wars."

In the latest available data, from 2023, the United Nations verified a record 32,990 grave violations against 22,557 children[9] - the highest number since Security Council-mandated monitoring began. With the overall upward trend in the number of grave violations - for example, thousands of children have been killed and injured in Gaza, and in Ukraine, the UN verified more child casualties during the first 9 months of 2024 than during all of 2023[10] - this year is likely to see another increase.

The situation for women and girls is particularly concerning, with widespread reports of rape and sexual violence in conflict settings. In Haiti, so far this year, there has been a 1,000 per cent increase in reported incidents of sexual violence against children.[11] In situations of armed conflict, children with disabilities also tend to be disproportionately exposed to violence and rights violations.

Education has been severely disrupted in conflict zones. More than 52 million children in countries affected by conflict are estimated to be out of school. Children in the Gaza Strip, and a significant portion of children in Sudan, have missed out on more than a year of school, while in countries such as Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Syria, schools have been damaged, destroyed or repurposed, leaving millions of children without access to learning. The destruction of educational infrastructure and insecurity near schools have exacerbated an already dire situation for children's education in these regions.

Malnutrition among children in conflict zon...

National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company responsible for delivering the Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP), has announced that 65,000 homes, farms and businesses are being moved to an earlier completion date in 2025 than had been originally scheduled.

The number includes 32,000 premises that have been brought from 2026 into NBI's schedule of works for this year. The 65,000 homes and businesses included in this move will be able to avail of a connection to NBI's network up to nine months sooner than previously anticipated.

The move underpins NBI's commitment to accelerating the rollout wherever possible, ensuring that homes, farms, and businesses across rural Ireland can avail of fast and reliable internet access sooner.

As of today, NBI has made high-speed fibre broadband available to 320,829 premises, with over 110,043 premises already connected to the NBI network through one of almost 70 participating broadband providers.

The take-up of NBI's services continues to outpace expectations. Areas where the network has been live for over 18 months are reporting take-up rates exceeding 50%, far above international benchmarks. Over 4,500 new premises are connecting to the network each month.

Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said: "We're delighted to announce that 65,000 premises are moving to an earlier anticipated completion date, with approximately 50% moving forward from 2026, with the other 50% being delivered sooner than previously expected in 2025.

"The huge progress that was made on the rollout in 2024 means we can deliver high speed broadband to more homes and businesses earlier this year and leaves us in a strong position to complete our rollout on time and on budget. With just two years remaining, we're working tirelessly to ensure we meet our commitments and provide communities with the connectivity they deserve.

"With almost 70 different internet providers offering broadband services on the NBI network and with January typically being switching season, there are certainly merit in shopping around to see what options are available. To see the retail broadband providers that are currently licensed to sell on the National Broadband Ireland network, visit?NBI.ie/buy".

As a wholesale network operator, NBI does not sell fibre broadband directly to end users, rather it enables services from a range of broadband providers or Retail Service Providers (RSPs). As a wholesale provider, NBI will make the new Fibre-to-the-Home network available to all RSPs operating in the Intervention Area.

See more stories here.