Introduction
Following the global IoT connectivity narrative, Ireland is rapidly emerging as a hub for digital innovation and smart infrastructure in Europe. NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) and LTE-M (Cat-M1) are becoming core elements in Ireland’s IoT strategies and nationwide connectivity plans, enabling scalable deployments of iot technologies, smart devices, and data-driven solutions for public services and industry.
Rapid Adoption of NB-IoT and LTE-M in Ireland
Is IoT a thing in Ireland? This question can only be answered by the following:
Irish telecom operators have begun deploying NB-IoT and LTE-M networks to support a growing ecosystem of connected devices, iot devices, and iot sensors.
- Three Ireland launched NB-IoT and LTE-M LPWAN networks, leveraging licensed spectrum to expand coverage, lower device costs, and extend battery life. Their deployment supports use cases in underground or hard-to-reach environments and positions Three as a major player in the Irish IoT market.
- Vodafone Ireland was the first operator to offer a nationwide NB-IoT network, upgrading its 4G infrastructure to support wide-area low-power connectivity for utilities, smart metering, and urban infrastructure monitoring.
These efforts align with national ambitions to modernize infrastructure, improve sustainability, and support data-driven public services.
Leading Operators Powering IoT in Ireland
Ireland’s telecom operators—Three, Vodafone, and others—play pivotal roles in enabling internet of things in Ireland deployments. They provide not only connectivity but also end-to-end IoT solutions, including device provisioning, network management, and platform services.
Operators deploy NB-IoT and LTE-M to ensure that internet connected devices like environmental sensors, asset trackers, and energy meters can reliably transmit data even from remote locations. Their strategies often include partnerships with global IoT providers to integrate iot device management capabilities, ensure multi-network resilience, and support the scaling of iot technologies across sectors.
Truly, Ireland connects to the IoT revolution by a wide margin, ensuring the development of such futuristic IoT infrastructure.
Global IoT Connectivity in Ireland
International IoT providers are active in Ireland and typically partner with licensed Irish telecoms to enable localized and compliant connectivity.
Providers like 1NCE, Eseye, KORE Wireless, and Onomondo offer NB-IoT and LTE-M plans in Ireland backed by roaming agreements and eSIM/eUICC support. These platforms provide features such as multi-network fallback, remote SIM provisioning, and unified iot device management, which are critical when managing fleets of iot devices across diverse environments.
Through these collaborations, global providers help support internet connected devices integration into Ireland’s infrastructure while ensuring regulatory compliance and operational flexibility.
NB-IoT & LTE-M vs. LoRaWAN and Sigfox in Ireland
NB-IoT in Ireland:
NB-IoT operates on licensed spectrum, delivering strong indoor and deep-coverage reach with extremely low power consumption. Vodafone and other operators use NB-IoT for use cases like smart metering, waste management, environmental sensing, and building automation, where devices remain stationary and transmit small, periodic data payloads.
LTE-M in Ireland:
LTE-M offers mobility, voice support, and lower latency compared to NB-IoT, making it better suited for use cases like wearables, fleet tracking, smart logistics, and mobile health. Its support for handovers between cells enables real-time connectivity for moving assets.
LoRaWAN in Ireland:
LoRaWAN is typically used in private or local deployments—such as within campuses, industrial parks, or rural sensor networks—rather than for nationwide public coverage. Its unlicensed-spectrum nature gives flexibility, but it faces constraints in scalability, interference, and co-existence, especially in dense deployments.
Sigfox in Ireland:
Sigfox has limited presence and relevance in Ireland. Coverage is minimal, and investments are modest. As NB-IoT and LTE-M gain broader operator support and scale, Sigfox is largely supplanted for large-scale or mission-critical IoT rollouts.
Ensuring Seamless IoT Connectivity via Local and Global Partnerships
Overcoming regulatory, technical, and operational challenges is key to scaling IoT in Ireland. Some strategies include:
- Global IoT providers partner with Irish operators to comply with national regulations and localize connectivity.
- Use of eUICC/eSIM technologies enables remote SIM provisioning and profile switching to Irish operator networks.
- Managed platforms combine local connectivity with global oversight, supporting iot device management, network switching, and monitoring.
These models ensure that iot devices, iot sensors, and internet connected devices can operate reliably in Ireland’s diverse geographic and regulatory landscape.
Ireland’s IoT Connectivity Outlook
Ireland is poised to become one of Europe’s strongholds for iot internet of things innovation, anchored by modern cellular LPWAN deployments and a healthy tech ecosystem. As NB-IoT and LTE-M coverage matures, the country is unlocking new opportunities across agriculture, utilities, transportation, and smart city services through smart devices, iot technologies, and data-driven automation. With continued collaboration between operators, global connectivity providers, regulators, and innovators, internet of things in Ireland is set to drive efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation across communities and industries.
Embracing IoT Growth Through Data Center Expansion
Ireland is actively strengthening its role as a technological and data infrastructure hub—an essential foundation for scaling iot technologies and supporting massive deployments of iot devices and internet connected devices. With over 135 data centers across 38 operators already in place, and dozens more under development, the country is investing heavily in capacity to host cloud, IoT, and AI workloads. The Dublin metropolitan area is now one of Europe’s largest data center markets, capitalizing on Ireland’s favorable climate, strong fiber connectivity, and global cloud on-ramps to deliver low-latency, reliable hosting for smart devices, connected devices, and edge services.
The global value of the IoT sector in Ireland is predicted to exceed €34bn a year by 2020, with an expectation that 25bn devices will be connected by 2025.
However, this expansion is not without challenges. Infrastructure strain and energy consumption concerns—particularly around grid capacity and sustainability—have led to stricter planning rules in Dublin and postponements of new data center builds. Still, many operators are pivoting to more energy-efficient designs and renewable power sourcing to keep pace with demand. Through this careful balancing of growth, Ireland is positioning itself to support the next generation of iot sensors, iot device management, and fully integrated internet of things in Ireland ecosystems.
Conclusion
Ireland is steadily positioning itself as a European leader in IoT by combining nationwide NB-IoT and LTE-M deployment, strong operator partnerships, and innovative smart city initiatives. With its booming data center industry providing the backbone for cloud and edge computing, the country is well equipped to handle the demands of massive IoT growth and smart cities. By balancing infrastructure expansion with sustainability goals, Ireland is paving the way for secure, scalable, and future-ready internet of things in Ireland solutions across all sectors.
