Local telecoms provider, Fibrus has been awarded a multi-million pound contract to connect over 900 public-sector buildings in Northern Ireland to hyperfast broadband services.
Valued at over £23m, the contract will see Fibrus deliver critical digital infrastructure on behalf of the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium (FFNI).
It announced that full fibre ‘gigabit capable’ broadband is now being installed in the likes of council buildings, community centres, fire stations, GP surgeries and health clinics across NI.
The Consortium, which is made up of 10 councils outside Belfast and the Business Services Organisation (BSO), is led by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
The aim of the project is to improve digital transformation and use these public sector hubs to acclerate a wider roll-out of faster, more reliable broadband to nearby residential and commercial properties, through separate commercial investment plans.
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The project secured funding from the Department of Digital Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) through the Local Full Fibre Network and Rural Gigabit Connectivity programmes.
Improved connectivity became vitally important during the current Covid-19 pandemic, which made online, remote and digital access a necessity.
UK Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said "the upgrades will push down the throttle on internet speeds at thousands of homes, businesses and public buildings, and thanks to our £1bn deal with mobile operators, people will have access to fast and reliable connectivity on the move too.”
Fibrus Chief Executive, Dominic Kearns added that "delivering this critical infrastructure to all these council and public sector buildings allows us to extend the network further into the surrounding homes and businesses that are in much need of our services."
Work to complete the new full fibre network for public sector sites is expected to be completed with "minimal disruption" by December 2021.
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