Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has confirmed that Fibrus Networks Ltd will deliver the next rural broadband scheme under Project Gigabit, a £34.6 million contract funded by the UK Government. The work starts immediately and is expected to connect more than 9,000 hard-to-reach premises across Northern Ireland to gigabit-capable speeds.
With overall gigabit coverage already at 94 per cent, Northern Ireland leads the UK and Ireland for fixed-line full-fibre access. Extending fibre to the remaining rural pockets could further boost remote working, digital public services and economic inclusion for communities that still struggle with slow connections.
9,000 Rural Premises to Gain Gigabit Speeds
The Department for the Economy (DfE) will act as delivery partner for Northern Ireland, while Building Digital UK (BDUK) provides capital on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology. According to Dr Archibald, the roll-out will “further improve broadband infrastructure in predominantly rural areas,” building on Project Stratum, which finished in June 2025 and upgraded 81,000 premises.
Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd framed the investment as a way to “unlock economic opportunities” and ensure everyone can “fully participate in the digital economy from wherever they live.” Fibrus co-founder Dominic Kearns said the contract demonstrates faith in the company’s ability to deliver “on time and within budget.”
What We Know – and What Remains Unclear
- Budget and funder: £34.6 million, fully funded by the UK Government.
- Scale: 9,000 premises, identified through an Open Market Review and Public Review of commercial plans.
- Start date: Immediate. No target completion date has been stated.
- Eligibility checker: Home-owners and businesses can see if they are included via the official Project Gigabit deployment plans and premises checker.
Notably, the announcement does not set out:
- A detailed timetable for when each area will be connected.
- What happens to premises still left without full-fibre after this phase.
- Any provisions to address affordability of high-speed tariffs once infrastructure is in place.
- Performance penalties if milestones slip, or transparency measures for reporting progress.
- Environmental considerations linked to trenching and new infrastructure in rural landscapes.
Wider Context and Potential Challenges
Northern Ireland’s 94 per cent gigabit coverage is well ahead of England (85 %), Scotland (78 %) and Wales (76 %). Yet the final six per cent—often farms, island communities and isolated cottages—remain the most expensive and technically complex to serve. The shift from rapid, high-volume deployments to bespoke rural builds can expose cost overruns, planning hurdles and slow take-up if installation charges deter residents.
Affordability is a growing concern. Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2024 report shows that one in five UK households can access gigabit speeds but still rely on sub-50 Mbps packages because of price. While infrastructure is vital, complementary social tariffs or voucher schemes may be necessary to convert availability into meaningful adoption.
Fibrus earned praise for largely meeting Project Stratum deadlines, yet it has also faced customer service complaints and wayleave disputes. Transparency on lessons learned, complaint-handling and community engagement would help maintain public confidence during this new phase.
Questions Worth Asking
- When will DfE publish a definitive timeline and milestone tracker for the 9,000 connections?
- What safeguards are in place if build costs escalate in sparsely populated areas?
- How will policymakers ensure that low-income households can afford gigabit-capable packages once fibre arrives?
- Could alternative technologies—such as fixed wireless or low-earth-orbit satellite—play a role for premises still deemed unviable for fibre?
- What lessons from customer feedback on Project Stratum are being applied to improve installation quality and after-care this time?
Looking Ahead
Bridging the last rural gaps in Northern Ireland’s broadband map has obvious economic and social value, but success will hinge on clear delivery dates, transparent progress reports and measures that convert fibre in the ground into affordable, reliable service for every household. Stakeholders may wish to monitor forthcoming DfE updates, particularly any published build schedule, community consultations and announcements on social tariffs or vouchers.