There are growing concerns that the Government’s National Broadband Plan could be derailed as one of the leading bidders dropped out of the race.

Broadband provider SIRO is to invest €40m in the rollout of high-speed broadband to six more towns in the coming months.

Work has begun to deliver the country’s fastest-ever broadband to a Co Cork town in a reversal of the digital divide between Dublin and regional towns.

Up to 60 jobs and a further 200 in construction have been announced in the building of a new high-speed broadband network around the country.