Category: Business

What it really takes to build your own payment gateway in 2025

For a growing number of businesses, managing the payment technology in-house has shifted from optional to essential for operational success. While third-party providers make it possible for almost any business to accept payments quickly, building a gateway from the ground up is a different challenge entirely. 

This article explores what it truly takes to build a payment gateway in 2025, the costs and challenges involved, and why many businesses opt for advanced orchestration platforms instead.

What is a payment gateway and why it matters

A payment gateway is a piece of technology that securely transfers payment information between the customer, the merchant, and the financial institutions involved in the transaction. It works like a digital point-of-sale terminal, confirming payment details, approving transactions, and making sure funds move quickly and safely.

The performance of a payment gateway can be the difference between a transaction completing in seconds or being abandoned altogether. If it’s slow or unreliable, it adds friction at a crucial moment in the buying process, which can lead to lost sales.

For global businesses, a payment gateway is far more than a back-end tool – it’s a strategic advantage. It influences the markets you can operate in, the currencies you can accept, and the level of fraud protection you can offer. In industries with high transaction volumes or greater risk, having full control over this infrastructure allows companies to adjust every stage of the payment process, from routing decisions to cost efficiency.

How does a secure payment gateway work

If you plan to create a payment gateway in-house, understanding how data moves between customers, merchants, and banks is essential to making informed architecture choices.

 

  1. Customer checkout: the buyer enters payment details on the merchant’s website or app.

  2. Encryption & transmission: sensitive data is encrypted and sent to the gateway.

  3. Routing to acquirer: the gateway forwards the request to the acquiring bank or payment processor.

  4. Card network processing: Visa, Mastercard, or alternative payment rails verify the transaction with the issuing bank.

  5. Authorisation & settlement: funds are authorised instantly and later settled into the merchant’s account.

Modern gateways also incorporate payment integrations with multiple acquirers, alternative payment methods (APMs), and fraud detection systems for a unified and efficient processing flow.

Payment gateway architecture: key components

A payment gateway’s architecture is the blueprint that determines how efficiently, securely, and reliably it can process transactions. In 2025, the best gateways are built on modular, API-first frameworks that allow flexibility, rapid integration, and future scalability.

 

At the core is the transaction processing engine – the component that manages the entire payment flow from authorisation requests to settlement. Around it are key layers, each with a specialised role:

 

  • Integration layer. Connects the gateway to banks, payment processors, alternative payment methods (APMs), and fraud prevention systems. A flexible integration layer ensures the gateway can add or switch providers without major redevelopment.

  • Security layer. Handles encryption, tokenisation, and fraud detection. It ensures sensitive cardholder data never leaves secure environments and that transactions are continuously monitored for risks.

  • Routing layer. Decides how transactions are sent to different acquirers or processors, optimising for speed, cost, or approval rates. In multi-acquirer setups, smart routing can significantly improve performance.

  • Compliance layer. Embeds regulatory and legal requirements into the system, such as PCI DSS, PSD2, and SCA, so that compliance infrastructure is automatic and consistent across all transactions.

  • Monitoring & analytics layer. Tracks transaction success rates, latency, and error patterns, providing real-time visibility into performance and enabling quick issue resolution.

Many organisations start with a modular, API-first design, then evaluate whether to continue building or partner with a payment orchestration provider to accelerate integrations and resilience.

Why it’s beneficial to create a custom payment solution

Building a custom payment solution gives businesses the ability to shape their payment infrastructure around their specific needs, rather than adapting their operations to fit an off-the-shelf system. This control can translate into higher efficiency, better user experiences, and measurable cost savings.

The key benefits include:

  • Full control over routing. Choose the most cost-effective or reliable path for each transaction, improve approval rates, and reduce fees.
  • Tailored payment flows. Customise checkout to match your brand, simplify repeat purchases, and offer the most relevant payment methods.
  • Enhanced security. Go beyond compliance with advanced fraud detection, tokenisation, and AI-powered risk checks.
  • Flexible growth. Add features, expand to new markets, and adopt new payment technologies without waiting on a provider’s roadmap.

Final takeaways

Building your own payment gateway offers unmatched control and flexibility, but it requires substantial investment, technical expertise, and ongoing operational effort. For most companies, the better option is to partner with a proven orchestration platform that offers the same capabilities while handling the complex parts – from licensing to integrations.

 

IN2 Engineering lays foundation for expansion with OSSM and NetSuite

OSSM, an Oracle NetSuite Solution Provider, today announces that IN2 Engineering, an Irish-headquartered building services and environmental engineering consultancy, is using NetSuite to support its mission to expand across Europe. With NetSuite and OSSM, IN2 Engineering has been able to increase efficiency, centralise operational data, and lay the groundwork for its ambitious five-year growth plan.

Founded in 2002, IN2 develops innovative and sustainable engineering solutions for customers across multiple construction sectors including residential, hotel, health, education, commercial, sport, and leisure. With locations across Ireland, the UK, Germany, and Spain, in addition to a growth strategy to expand further across Europe, IN2 needed a flexible and scalable platform to support its multi-country operations. IN2 selected NetSuite and OSSM to streamline operations for over 100 employees across finance, sales, and project management, while using insights from NetSuite to support strategy and decision-making.

“To facilitate our growth as we expand into new jurisdictions, we needed a system that could scale with us,” said Lucy-Marnée Henning, Bid Manager, IN2 Engineering. “With support from OSSM, NetSuite is enabling the flow of real-time information across the business, which is crucial for delivering high-quality customer projects. In addition, as a business with multiple locations, NetSuite enables our employees to stay connected, wherever they’re working. As we build our portfolio of innovative and sustainable services across Europe, NetSuite will grow with us and give us insights to confidently make decisions.”

With NetSuite and OSSM, IN2 has a foundation that is helping drive productivity, improve operational efficiency, and enable seamless collaboration across the company’s six locations. With information centralised in NetSuite’s unified suite, IN2’s teams can more seamlessly manage customer projects, allocate resources, and track the status of bids and proposals to support new business growth. By using NetSuite to automate invoice processing and expense management, IN2’s finance team saves up to four days per month on previously manual processes, freeing up resources to focus on value-added tasks and customer service.

“When we set out to implement an ERP system, our goal was to choose a single platform that could support every aspect of the business and grow alongside IN2’s plans,” said Lorraine Kenny, Director of Finance, IN2 Engineering. “NetSuite has the longevity, adaptability, and capability to deliver fast, meaningful insights to empower our leadership team to act decisively. The OSSM team has provided fantastic support for our implementation and spoke our language from day one.”

“IN2 Engineering is an Irish business on an exciting expansion path,” said Roger Gribbin, Sales Director, OSSM. “OSSM is thrilled to have implemented NetSuite for IN2, which will provide the cornerstone of the company’s growth. With NetSuite and support from OSSM, IN2 can have confidence in the smooth day-to-day running of the business across its international bases, with a platform to help innovate and scale. We look forward to building our relationship with the team further.”

Disability Claims Made Easier: The Power of the Right Legal Help

Anyone who has ever applied for Social Security disability insurance or supplemental security income disability benefits knows how frustrating the process can be. The paperwork is highly complex, and the applicant must meet strict requirements. The wait times can be very lengthy, leading people to become discouraged about whether their claim will be approved or denied and how long they must wait for this information.

Sadly, most disability claims are initially denied by the Social Security administration. The individual must then appeal the denial. You may wish to seek help with your disability claim from an attorney.  This attorney understands the nuances of the process and guides clients through each step.

Denials Are Common

The Social Security Administration reports that it initially denies approximately 63% of disability applications. When the application is rejected, an appeal may be filed. Fortunately, a person is more likely to be approved for these benefits during the appeal. They must attend an appeal hearing before an administrative law judge. These judges approve approximately 50% of the cases they hear. Hiring an attorney to help with this process can improve those odds.

Eligibility

To qualify for disability benefits, a person must prove they are technically eligible for these benefits and that they are medically qualified as disabled. Both conditions must be met before a claim will be approved. The technical eligibility requirements differ by the program.  However, the medical criteria remain the same, and the Social Security Administration establishes these criteria. The agency requires individuals to provide specific medical evidence of their disability before they will be approved.

Hiring An Attorney

Attorneys understand the medical evidence required by the agency. They help clients gather proof of their disability and prepare to present it to the appropriate parties.  When a person is diagnosed with certain conditions, such as ALS or small-cell lung cancer, they are immediately approved for disability under the compassionate allowances program. However, most people will need additional evidence to show that they are entitled to receive these benefits.

The attorney is invaluable in gathering proof when specific tests won’t prove the diagnosis. A doctor will need to provide a detailed statement explaining the individual’s limitations. Other evidence may also be needed, and the attorney can assist the client in determining what proof is required and how to secure it.

When to Hire an Attorney

Many people hesitate to hire a disability attorney until their claim has been initially denied. However, most people find that working with an attorney before filing the initial claim improves the odds of it being approved. Some claims are straightforward, such as when a person has had both legs amputated. They will likely be approved for benefits immediately.

Complex medical conditions can be more challenging to prove. For example, a person might have several medical conditions. One condition alone might not qualify them for benefits, but when they are combined, they severely limit the person’s ability to work and complete other essential tasks. The attorney will help the client provide proof of their impairments and demonstrate their inability to work.

While an attorney is not required to navigate the Social Security disability benefits process, most people find having a lawyer by their side simplifies the process. The attorney can’t guarantee that the claim will be processed faster with their help, but they may be able to speed up the process. It never hurts to speak to one of these professionals, and the advice they provide may be enough to move forward with the claim or appeal. One can never know until they meet with one of these professionals. 

CCPC publishes its 2024 annual report

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has today published its 2024 Annual Report, detailing the investigations, enforcement actions and public awareness campaigns carried out last year. 2024 also marked a significant milestone as the CCPC celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of work promoting competition and enhancing consumer welfare.

Key highlights from 2024:

•    Blocked daa’s purchase of the former QuickPark car park site at Dublin Airport to prevent a monopoly in that market

•    Cleared 71% of merger determinations within 13.3 days, under a simplified process, despite merger notifications increasing by 21%

•    Opened five new investigations for suspected breaches of competition law

•    Carried out dawn raids on two premises as part of an ongoing cartel-related investigation in the home alarm industry, and assisted the Italian competition authority with an unannounced search of Ryanair’s headquarters in Dublin as part of an ongoing Italian competition investigation

•    Recalled, withdrew or prevented 178,596 unsafe products reaching the Irish market

•    Launched proceedings against several nationwide retailers for breaches of new sales pricing laws

•    Undertook 205 consumer protection inspections

•    Responded to over 44,000 helpline contacts and received 1.8 million visits to ccpc.ie

Among its highlights include the CCPC’s successful intervention to prevent a potential monopoly in car parking at Dublin Airport, blocking the daa’s attempted purchase of the former Quickpark site. The deal was stopped due to findings that it would lead to higher prices, less choice and lower service quality for consumers, and facilitated the entry of a new competitor to the car park market at Dublin Airport. Recent analysis conducted by the Commission shows evidence of consumers benefiting from increased competition for car park business at the airport.

Over 178,000 unsafe products removed or prevented from reaching the Irish market

Following consumer complaints, referrals from European networks, proactive investigations and work with Revenue Customs, the CCPC recalled, removed or prevented almost 180,000 unsafe and non-compliant products from reaching the Irish market. Recalls included almost 10,000 babies’ sleepsuits and over 2,400 toy construction trucks, in addition to compliance inspections across hundreds of products.

Enforcement and legal actions

Work to protect Irish consumers from breaches of consumer protection law continued at pace with more than 200 inspections undertaken, 47 fixed penalty notices and 23 compliance notices issued. Successful prosecutions were brought against five retailers, with Tesco Ireland pleading guilty to two sample counts of failing to comply with the law in how they displayed the price of products offered on promotion to Clubcard holders.

Dawn raids

The CCPC carried out dawn raids on two premises as part of an ongoing cartel-related investigation in the home alarm industry. It also assisted the Italian Competition Authority, the Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), in an unannounced search of Ryanair’s headquarters in Dublin as part of an ongoing Italian competition law investigation.

CCPC Chairperson Brian McHugh commented:

“2024 marked a major milestone for the CCPC — ten years of championing consumer rights and fostering competitive markets in Ireland. Open, fair markets are the backbone of our economy’s success, ensuring that whether consumers are making small everyday purchases or major financial decisions, their interests are protected.

“Our Annual Report highlights the vital role the CCPC plays across all sectors of the economy, from enforcing consumer law on retail pricing, to advocating proactively for reforming the legal sector to better serve the interests of Irish businesses and consumers. As we look ahead, it is clear that the CCPC’s work is more important than ever and our vision for open and competitive markets where consumers are protected and businesses actively compete, remains at the heart of everything we do.

“Following a year of notable achievements and a decade of progress, our focus remains on delivering transparent outcomes, empowering consumers with knowledge of their rights, and being a leading voice for competition and consumer welfare across Ireland.”

For more information, read the CCPC’s 2024 Annual Report.

Editor’s Notes

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for enforcing and promoting compliance with competition, consumer protection and product safety law, with new and expanding roles in digital and data regulation. We make markets work better for consumers and empower consumers to make informed choices.

Other CCPC reports for 2024 that may be of interest include:

–    The Contacts Report which breaks down the sectors, issues and traders detailed by consumers who contacted the CCPC for information on their rights in 2024.

–    The Annual Mergers and Acquisitions Report which provides details of the mergers and acquisitions notified to, and reviewed by, the CCPC throughout 2024.

–    The Consumer Protection List which details the CCPC’s consumer protection enforcement activities in 2024.

Investing in the Right Equipment: A Guide for Dental Professionals

Building a successful dental practice is all about making sure you and the rest of your team have access to the very best equipment. Precision, accuracy, and reliability all need to be factored into the equation. Without these fundamental considerations, your practice won’t be able to optimise patient outcomes and minimise patient waiting times. 

Knowing how to invest in the right equipment is all about having a set process that you can follow from beginning to end. Because we want you to be able to follow this process for every type of equipment you invest in, we’ve created a process that’s so versatile it will adapt to every issue you face. 

Ask for proof of a track record 

Whether it’s the equipment manufacturer or the supplier who delivers the consumables when you need them, don’t be shy about asking for proof of a track record. Every business that knows its stuff will want to tell you why it can help you, and that means the person on the other end of the phone will have everything you need to know at your fingertips. Take a moment to weigh up what they are saying and then compare it against some of their direct competitors, and you will be able to make an informed decision without delay. 

Read the online reviews 

Online reviews are there to be read and digested, so why not take a look as soon as you finish this quick guide? Many people are put off by the presence of a small number of negative reviews, but they are actually some of the most valuable information you will find online. If a small number of customers and clients are complaining about the same issue and it doesn’t appear to have been resolved, this is a warning sign. Likewise, if the issues are promptly resolved and the responses are professional and polite, this is a green light. 

Analyse the customer service 

The way you are treated when you phone or email says a lot about the team of people who are behind the scenes. If you find that the customer service is quick, efficient, and friendly, you will be able to make your choice with the peace of mind that makes all the difference. Exactly what you want to hear when you’re looking to build relationships that will take the stress out of running your practice for many years to come. 

Consider servicing and repairs

All advanced equipment will need to be serviced or repaired at some point, but it’s the frequency and the cost that matter here. You want to minimise both at the same time, and have a contingency plan built into the way your practice is equipped if possible. That way, you will be able to keep serving your patients when a key piece of scanning or diagnostic equipment is down for scheduled maintenance. 

Think about the lead times 

The initial investment is one thing, but many pieces of dental equipment will work their way through a list of consumables and replacement parts. Making sure that they are budget-friendly and easy to source is really important. You want transparent pricing, discounts on bulk buys, and short lead times to make sure that you are always able to offer the service your patients have come to expect from you. 

Look for nationwide coverage 

Sourcing dental equipment from a supplier who is well-established and serves the entire UK will make sure that you never fall foul of the downsides of hyper-local suppliers. Nationwide coverage also reduces delivery times and makes sure that any gaps in local supply can be easily solved via other distribution centres. Exactly what you want to hear when you’re looking to invest in the right dental equipment from day one. 

Set a budget for reinvestment 

Continually upgrading your equipment through a proactive approach to reinvestment is what will keep your practice in the best possible health. Putting aside a set part of your monthly budget for reinvestment is a wise move here. You can then fall back on a pot of money when an upgrade is released that you want to add to your existing equipment. 

Put aside time for training 

Last but by no means least, remember that all new equipment will require training time for each relevant member of the care team. The best equipment will offer a powerful range of new functions while also being quick and easy to master, so that you can get back to what you do best.

How Top Agencies Use Visual Annotation to Cut Delivery Times by 40%

Feedback can make or break a project timeline. It’s often not the creative work that slows things down—it’s the endless cycle of revisions, miscommunications, and the frustrating hunt for clarity. Agencies trying to deliver high-quality websites or digital experiences often find themselves bogged down not by the work itself, but by how feedback is managed.

And that’s where visual annotation tools are changing the game.

What Slows Agencies Down? It’s Not Just the Workload

A lot of agencies have tight internal systems. They use project management tools, they run stand-ups, they track deadlines with discipline. But when it comes to collecting and actioning client feedback, even the most organized teams hit a wall.

Think of it this way: your client sends an email that says, “Can you fix the spacing on that thing under the testimonial?” Suddenly, a developer is opening three different browsers, resizing their screen, and still isn’t sure what that thing actually is. Multiply that by a dozen pieces of vague feedback and now your team is spending more time decoding than developing.

Why Visual Feedback Changes Everything

Visual annotation tools let clients drop comments directly onto a live site, wireframe, or image—pinpointing exactly what they mean. It’s like placing a digital sticky note on a specific button, section, or layout element. But it’s not just about convenience. These tools typically capture screenshots, browser data, screen resolution, and even the device used—all automatically.

So, instead of asking “Which version of Chrome are you using?” or “What did it look like on your end?”, your team has everything they need from the get-go.

Less guessing. Less back-and-forth. Way faster fixes.

How Agencies Are Actually Using These Tools

For a growing number of web and creative agencies, visual annotation tools aren’t just nice-to-have—they’re core to their workflow.

During the QA phase, project managers use them to review builds internally before involving clients. Designers gather precise change requests during the approval process. Developers get all the context they need to resolve bugs quickly. And clients? They finally feel like their feedback is being heard and acted on—without having to send long-winded emails.

Many agencies also loop stakeholders in without forcing them to create an account or learn a new system. A simple shared link is often all it takes to bring someone into the review process. It’s feedback made easy—for everyone involved.

From Two Weeks of Back-and-Forth to Two Days of Clarity

One agency we spoke to used to spend about 10–14 days just gathering and clarifying feedback for a mid-sized web project. After adopting a visual annotation system, they saw that drop to less than three days.

They didn’t rush the creative. They just cut out the lag time between misaligned feedback, miscommunication, and confusion. Multiply that time savings across several projects and it’s easy to see how 40% faster delivery isn’t just possible—it’s practical.

Yes, There Are Tools. But Not All Are Equal

If you’ve searched for markup alternatives, you’ve probably come across a few popular platforms offering visual collaboration features. Some are geared toward developers, some toward designers, and some offer feedback on a range of media—from PDFs to video.

But here’s what top agencies really look for:

  • A way to drop comments in context—on the actual site or design
  • Automatic capture of screenshots and technical specs
  • A smooth way to turn comments into tasks
  • No need for client logins or complicated onboarding
  • Integration with tools they already use, like Trello, Asana, or Jira

The best visual annotation tools don’t just help you collect feedback—they plug into your process like they were always meant to be there.

Why It’s Not Just About Speed

Faster delivery is a big win, no question. But agencies are also seeing softer benefits. Clients feel more involved and confident throughout the build. Team members feel less frustrated chasing down unclear comments. And projects, overall, just feel smoother.

That kind of workflow creates happier clients and happier teams. And, let’s be honest—when your team isn’t spending hours rewriting feedback as tasks or jumping between email threads, they have more creative energy to put into what really matters.

Cutting Through the Noise

Agencies aren’t strangers to project chaos. But the smartest ones are finding ways to cut through the noise—to align their teams, clients, and tools in a way that brings clarity and flow.

Visual annotation is more than a helpful add-on. For many, it’s become the cornerstone of a modern feedback process. It brings everyone onto the same page—literally—and gives teams the confidence to move fast without sacrificing quality.

Because when feedback stops being a bottleneck, delivery becomes a whole lot easier.

 

PayPal to Create 100 Highly Skilled Tech Jobs in Ireland

PayPal today announced that it will create 100 new highly skilled data science roles at its Dublin office. This expansion reflects the company’s commitment to investing in the future of commerce through advanced data science and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and marks a new chapter in the transformation of its Irish operations. The new AI team in Dublin will serve as a key spoke in PayPal’s global network, working in close coordination with PayPal’s other innovation hubs.

This hiring initiative is being supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, the country’s investment promotion and development agency, and comes as PayPal continues to evolve its Dublin site beyond its roots as a customer service hub into a centre for innovation at the forefront of the global digital economy.

“As we shape the next generation of digital payments, the talent and innovation coming from Ireland will play a critical role,” said Aaron J. Webster, Global Chief Risk Officer at PayPal. “This expansion reflects both our confidence in the local ecosystem and our ambition to build an AI-driven, data-powered future that embeds trust and safety in every transaction. We are proud to deepen our commitment to Ireland and to invest in highly skilled roles that will help shape the future of PayPal globally.”

The new roles will span a range of disciplines, including AI engineering, data science, software development, risk modeling, and cybersecurity. These positions will support key strategic priorities such as loss prevention and enhancing outstanding customer experiences, placing innovation at the core of PayPal’s global mission.

Webster added: “Our work to solve some of the most intricate and critical commerce challenges globally is fueled by the unprecedented scale of our platform and unmatched data at our fingertips. We are redefining what is possible by empowering data scientists to push boundaries, harness cutting-edge AI, and transform the future of fraud detection and payment security.”

Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said: “This announcement by PayPal is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland as a location for high-value tech investment. The creation of 100 highly skilled roles in cutting-edge fields like AI and data science reinforces our status as a global hub for innovation, and I would like to commend PayPal for its ongoing partnership with IDA Ireland.”

Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, said: ‘’I am delighted with PayPal’s decision to create up to 100 new highly skilled tech jobs in Ireland. This is a testament to Ireland’s enduring appeal as a location for high-value investments. We are proud to support this growth and look forward to the continued success of PayPal in Ireland.’’

Open positions can be found here.

Vodafone Ireland reports 76% year on year growth in device trade-ins

Vodafone Ireland, the leading communications partner to Irish consumers and businesses, today reported a sharp 76% increase in its device trade ins in June, compared to June 2024.

Publishing the data today, Vodafone Ireland reported a ‘record month’ with more customers than ever trading in their old devices and its ‘best week ever’ – one in three customers buying a new handset traded in their old device during the last week of June, demonstrating a growing shift toward responsible tech ownership and more sustainable choices.

Devices are traded in to be recycled, refurbished and reused, while the average trade-in value currently received by customers is €150* per transaction. As a responsible communications partner, the Trade In service is part of Vodafone Ireland’s commitment to sustainability and supporting consumers to make sustainable choices.

Driving Affordability 

The Trade-In service allows customers to release the residual value of their devices, which they can then use to reduce the price of a new device, gain store credit to purchase accessories, or opt for the price to come straight off their bill.

This service, pioneered by Vodafone Ireland – another Vodafone first – and launched in 2022, is available to consumers across Vodafone’s 80 retail stores nationwide, with all reporting strong uptake of the initiative. To date, Irish consumers have saved over €8 million through this e-waste service.

This initiative was established to address the increasing challenge of e-waste in Ireland. A recent study estimated that there are 7.3 million unused smartphones** in Irish households, demonstrating the opportunity for trade-in options to see these devices responsibly reused, recycled or repurposed rather than going to waste.

Trade-In  

Consumers can trade in their phones, tablets, iPads and smart watches while Vodafone Ireland also accepts devices for responsible recycling, including laptops.

The service offers an effective and tangible solution to Ireland’s e-waste challenge, with every device traded in first securely wiped of data, and then either refurbished for reuse or responsibly recycled — with 0% sent to landfill.

This circular approach prevents valuable materials from going to waste and reduces the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing new devices. By making trade-ins simple and rewarding for Irish consumers, Vodafone Ireland is driving greater consumer participation in the shift towards sustainable and responsible tech ownership.

Earlier this month, Vodafone Ireland was named Best Mobile Operator for the 10th consecutive year by independent benchmarking organisation umlaut, achieving a record-breaking score. The recognition highlights Vodafone’s €500 million five-year investment in network and its role as the connectivity partner to 60% of Irish businesses.

Commenting today, Sabrina Casalta, CEO, Vodafone Ireland said:  

“Trade in plays a critical role in driving Vodafone Ireland’s commitment to protecting the planet, as well as offering affordability for our customers. With one in every three customers across our retail stores trading in a handset, we’re delivering on our ambition to tackle e-waste and supporting the circular economy in Ireland. These results are commendable and testament to the efforts of our team, our retail colleagues and also to our customers throughout the country who are taking action.  

‘We’ve invested heavily in this campaign since 2022 because we saw an opportunity to make a difference. We encourage Irish consumers to maintain this momentum and continue to support us in tackling e-waste through trading in their device for repair, recycle or repurposing. This is a tangible method to deliver change and make a difference for generations to come.” 

Over 2,000 people work with Vodafone in Ireland across its Dublin HQ and 80 retail units across the country while the company has more than 2.3 million customers and growing.

New state-of-the-art facility for Arm opens in Galway

Arm, the company that is building the future of computing, recently celebrated the official opening of its new state-of-the-art facility in Galway City. Since establishing operations in Galway in 2014, Arm has expanded to 90 staff members locally, and more than 4800 employees across Europe.

Arm’s facility at Crown Square, which recently welcomed a visit from Taoiseach Micheál Martin, will become home to innovative advancements in technology.

This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Peter Burke TD said: “The opening of Arm’s new facility in Galway is a strong endorsement of Ireland’s position as a global hub for research, innovation and advanced semiconductor technologies. We recently launched Silicon Island: Ireland’s National Semiconductor Strategy which aims to have Ireland firmly at the forefront of the global semiconductor industry, targeting emerging technologies, showcasing our manufacturing expertise, R&D capacity, and enterprise supports which will generate high-quality, highly skilled employment opportunities across Ireland.

I thank Arm for its continued commitment to Galway and look forward to the positive impact this will have on the region and the wider economy. I wish all the team at Arm every success for the future.”

“Ireland’s new National Semiconductor Strategy underscores the country’s growing importance in the global technology landscape,” said Mike Lardner, senior director, Engineering, Arm. “We’re proud that our teams in Galway are helping deliver the computing foundations for the next era of innovation — advancing research, strengthening the local ecosystem, and building the future of AI on Arm.”

IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said: I wish to congratulate Arm on this strategic move into a new state-of-the-art facility in Galway City.  A key player in the semiconductor industry, Arm is recognised for its capability in mobile and licensing of chip designs. This new Galway facility is part of Arm’s strategy to expand its market reach and talent pool in Ireland, supporting innovative work in semiconductor and technology development.  I’d like to wish Arm continued success.