Back To The Island: How Arranmore Built A Bright Future With Three’s Support

Fast and reliable 5G Business Broadband is breathing new life into one of Ireland's most remote island communities, enabling business growth and population renewal.

From Population Decline to Thriving Digital Community 

In 2019, Arranmore was at a turning point.

Located off the coast of Donegal, this remote island community was experiencing population decline, seeking new economic opportunities, and looking for ways to encourage people to remain on or return to the island.

Three Ireland partnered with Arranmore's Island Council to implement transformative connectivity solutions, creating Ireland's first offshore digital hub with enterprise-grade connectivity. Beyond the hub, Three extended 5G coverage to the wider community, ensuring that the local population and local businesses could benefit from high-speed connectivity. This connection was described by Adrian Begley, Head of the Island Council, as "the electrification of the 21st century."

A Revitalised Island Embracing New Possibilities

Today, Arranmore tells a remarkably different story. Census figures show population growth for the first time in decades, with 18% of residents now working remotely – up from just one person before the island was connected. Housing development has accelerated, and school enrollments are increasing as families discover they can balance idyllic island life with global careers.

Even during traditionally quiet winter months, the island buzzes with activity as remote workers, digital entrepreneurs, and creative professionals establish themselves in this stunning coastal setting.

Businesses Thriving with 5G Connectivity

The Red Ferry: A Lifeline to the Mainland

Operating for over 16 years, Dominic Sweeney's Red Ferry connects islanders to the mainland for work, trade, and essential services.

"Three business broadband has been critical to us," explains Sweeney. Using Three's modems on boats and in their office, the Red Ferry has revolutionised operations with real-time online booking, enabling passengers to secure passage anytime, even outside office hours.

The reliable connectivity enables mobile payments directly on deck. "Our handheld payment device is connected to the Three modem, allowing us to take payments on the deck in the wheelhouse," Sweeney notes.

Without Three's technology, the ferry would still rely on handwritten booking sheets. Now, the seamless digital system has eliminated overbookings and helped manage growing passenger numbers as more people discover the island.

Talking Planet: Animation Studio Reaching Global Audiences

Founded by Cadi Catlow, Talking Planet creates animated educational resources for Indigenous communities working in language revitalisation worldwide.

"I would not have a business if I didn't have reliable internet," Catlow states plainly. The technical demands are extraordinary – working with video files exceeding 20GB, coordinating with specialists in Sweden and Los Angeles, and conducting live sessions across every time zone.

Three's reliable 5G Business Broadband transforms what would be impossible into everyday reality. Catlow now manages her global business seamlessly from Arranmore with ambitions to build "an artistic community here where there are set builders, lighting people, and costume makers."

Arranmore Co-Op: Modernising a Community Cornerstone

The Arranmore Co-Op has been vital to island life for decades, providing a holiday village, hardware store, and various sports and leisure activities.

"Since Three has been implemented, it's just been phenomenal," says board committee member Laura Begley. Prior connectivity was inconsistent and unreliable.

Three's business broadband now powers real-time CCTV surveillance connecting multiple locations, a fully digital Point of Sale system for immediate account updates, and new entertainment facilities like a community cinema for film screenings.

Arranmore Community Centre: A Digital Heartbeat for Island Life

Arranmore Community Centre serves as a social and administrative hub, housing the post office, café, community gym, sports hall, and meeting rooms.

"Three business broadband has been a lifesaver and cut down our workload in terms of paperwork so much," explains manager John McCafferty.

What was once managed through cumbersome paperwork is now streamlined through digital systems. Upgrading to 5G Business Broadband accommodates up to 15 simultaneous users without performance degradation.

This enhanced capacity supports vital community initiatives like the weekly Coding Dojo classes for children and has transformed the Centre into a co-working space for locals working remotely.

Arranmore Digital Hub: The Island's Gateway to Global Opportunity

The Arranmore Digital Hub represents a visionary response to decades of population decline.

The Community Council identified two critical needs to entice former residents back: employment opportunities and reliable connectivity. Three's business broadband offered the solution.

In partnership with Three, they installed a wireless leased line that Chair Adrian Begley describes as "an invisible highway" exclusively serving the Hub. "It's reliable and we never have to worry about anything going wrong with it," he explains.

With 11 workspaces, the Hub enables professionals to maintain careers without sacrificing the quality of life offered on the island. "This service, this connection, has provided people with the security they need to work in various industries," Begley notes.

Since opening in April 2019 as "the world's first offshore digital hub," the facility has transformed island demographics. "We're now part of a larger network… people are moving home," states Begley, with the impact extending to other islands as Arranmore joins the wider GeoTech network of digital workspaces.

The power of connectivity 

The connectivity partnership with Arranmore represents more than a technical achievement. It's a blueprint for sustainable rural revitalisation. Enterprise-grade 5G connectivity enables remote communities to transform their demographics, economics, and opportunities for generations to come.

When reliable connectivity reaches previously isolated areas, it creates a level playing field where location no longer limits potential.

From digital nomads to global businesses, connectivity breaks down barriers and creates pathways to prosperity for cultures, communities and ways of life worldwide.

Find out how Three Business's range of connectivity solutions can help your business thrive by booking a call with our team today.