Financial Boost for Gigabit and Full Fibre Projects

DCMS provides £23.1m boost for full fibre and gigabit projects.

02:24 24 January 2023

The Full Fibre Northern Ireland (FFNI) Consortium has successfully secured £23.1million funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The consortium, which is led by Newry Mourne and Down District Council, has successfully rolled out the Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) and Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) projects as part of the UK Government's Levelling Up strategy with the aim to expand the high-speed fibre broadband footprint in Northern Ireland. 

The project brought gigabit-capable broadband service to a number of public sector buildings, including community centres, council offices, fire stations, GP surgeries, and recycling centres. 

Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage, said: “FFNI is essentially an Economic Development and Regeneration project and this multi-million-pound investment will assist those at risk of digital exclusion.

“Also it will create local jobs and allow public sector partners to offer more digital services to businesses and residents across the district.

“The collaboration between public-sector bodies through FFNI has played a key role in supporting digital ambitions, which will empower our local communities and businesses to bounce back from the pandemic and the positive impact will be even more far reaching for years to come.”