£15m Fibre Broadband Plan for Northern Ireland

£15m project to deliver high-speed broadband across the north moves to the procurement stage.

06:31 14 May 2020

A £15million council-led project that aims to bring high-speed fibre broadband across the north has moved to the next phase. The Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium (FFNI), which is hosted by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, has confirmed plan to identify preferred bidders by mid-June. 

 

Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council's development committee, said: "FFNI secured £15million of LFFN funding in March 2019 from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). 

 

"The council welcomes this £1.5million investment for our council area. It will contribute to the development of important telecoms infrastructure and full-fiber at all our council facilities.

 

"This investment has the potential to provide improved digital connectivity and unlock considerable economic value across the city. It will make it easier for suppliers to provide full fibre to nearby business and domestic properties." 

 

FFNI hopes that better broadband service in the north will transform connectivity for almost 1,000 public sector sites and deliver a major gross value added (GVA) boost across the region. 

 

Matt Warman, the UK Government's Minister for Digital Infrastracture, said: "We are taking the next step in our plans to future proof Northern Ireland's broadband for a generation.

 

"This £15million investment from the UK government will boost public services and buildings with gigabit broadband and encourage suppliers to improve connections to nearby homes and businesses in the process."