Fast broadband to reach over 9,000 rural premises across Northern Ireland

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced that Fibrus Networks Ltd have been appointed to deliver Project Gigabit.

The £34.6milion contract, funded by the UK government, begins immediately and will bring gigabit-capable broadband to over 9,000 rural premises across Northern Ireland. Project Gigabit is the UK government's programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access gigabit-capable broadband and builds on the success of Project Stratum, which brought high speed broadband access to 81,000 premises in Northern Ireland.

Economy Minister Archibald said: “High quality internet access is vital for our economy and wider society.  It is transformative for many households and businesses, enabling access to digital services, remote learning and work, and economic participation. 

“At 94% gigabit capable coverage, the north is now the best connected part of these islands.  Building on this, Project Gigabit will extend this level of digital capacity to over 9,000 premises, further improving broadband infrastructure in predominantly rural areas.

“Digital connectivity is a vital enabler in building an inclusive, regional balanced economy. This investment further positions the north as a leader in the availability of fixed line fibre optic services, underpinning our digital transformation, competitiveness, and innovation.”

Telecoms Minister, Liz Lloyd said: “Access to gigabit-capable broadband is so important to modern life, whether that's running a business, accessing digital public services, or staying connected with loved ones.

"That's why we're making crucial investments into digital infrastructure across Northern Ireland, to unlock economic opportunities, support Northern Irish communities, and ensure everyone can fully participate in the digital economy from wherever they live.”

Dominic Kearns, CEO and Co Founder of Fibrus: “Delivering for rural communities is at the heart of what we do at Fibrus and this contract allows us to continue to provide more homes and businesses with the opportunities proper connectivity brings.  

“We have a short history in Fibrus, but one that shows we can deliver on time and within budget like with Project Stratum. We are delighted to have been awarded another contract by the Government who have entrusted us once again with its delivery.” 

Notes to editors:

1. More details of the deployment plans are available at www.online.economy-ni.gov.uk/ProjectGigabit/. This includes a premises checker to enable homeowners and businesses to check if their premises will benefit from Project Gigabit.
2. At 94% gigabit capable coverage, the north now has the best coverage across these islands.  England has 85%, Scotland has 78%, Wales has 76%, while the South has 88%.
3. The identification of the premises follows and Open Market Review, Public Review and a full assessment of commercial plans and affordability.
4. Project Gigabit is funded by the UK government through the Department for Science, Innovation, & Technology (DSIT).  Design and accountability for delivery of the Scheme is the responsibility of Building Digital UK (BDUK), a directorate within DSIT. BDUK will provide the capital funding to deliver the project on its behalf.  The Department for the Economy (DfE) is the delivery partner for Northern Ireland.
5. Project Gigabit builds on the success of Project Stratum which completed its rollout on 30 June 2025, enabling 81,000 premises to access gigabit capable broadband (1,000Mbps). These predominantly rural premises had previously had download speeds below 30Mbps available.
6. The appointment of Fibrus follows a robust procurement process that was fully compliant with Public Procurement regulations.  More information on Fibrus is available at visit www.fibrus.com.