Plans lodged to boost broadband at Portlaoise hospital

Plans have been lodged with Laois County Council to install new telecommunications equipment on the rooftop of Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise to improve broadband services for the area. 

Three Ireland (Hutchinson) Limited has applied for permission to "retain the existing rooftop support ballasts with three antennas and associated equipment as well as the proposed installation of telecommunications equipment including three additional antennas, amounting to 6 total no. Antennas on site, a dish, remote radio units (RRU’s), cable trays, GPS, gantry poles and all associated site development works on the rooftop of protected structure Portlaoise Hospital Administration Building (RPS 927) to continue to provide for high-speed wireless data and broadband services."

The planning documents accompanying the application state: "The current uptake of devices has put additional pressures on the network meaning existing base stations are undergoing significant upgrades in technology to meet this demand and so are critical in maintaining current and future service provision. The retention of this base station & installation of new technology (5G) will have  an immediate and positive impact on Three’s network provision in the wider area and bring next generation  services, such as IOT services, to our customers within Portlaoise Hospital and the surrounding area."

A decision is due to be made by the local authority by August 18. 

READ NEXT: Admissions stop at a second Laois nursing home in Portlaoise