Openreach says 360,000 homes and businesses can now get Full Fibre Broadband across Northern Ireland
The company which manages Northern Ireland's communications network says more than 40% of properties here will now be able to access Full Fibre broadband
Openreach has branded the move a "significant milestone" with 360,000 homes and businesses set to benefit
Director Mairead Meyer says it is a big moment for the entire economy.
She said: “The Full Fibre build programme is central to NI’s digital future and economic growth and will provide the region with more reliable, faster and future-proof broadband.
“ We’re delighted to have reached a milestone of 360,000 premises today and are on track with our plans to achieve 525,000 by the end of March 2021, covering 60% of homes and businesses. We are building right across Northern Ireland. We have recently finished projects from Bangor and Magherafelt to Enniskillen, as well as building Full Fibre to rural communities in Tamnaghmore and Upper Ballinderry amongst others”.
The company also predict that by the end of March next year 60% of households and businesses will have access.
Ulster University Economist Richard Johnston says investment in Full Fibre broadband would help NI realise its long-term growth potential
Mr Johnston, Deputy Director of the Ulster University Economic Research Centre, has produced a paper that looks at Northern Ireland’s post-covid recovery and the potential benefits economically, socially and environmentally.
He said: “2020 will certainly be a year that will go down in history. A year when restrictions have had a significantly negative impact on the NI economy, leaving the region in the midst of a rapid and relatively deep downturn. It has also been a year that so far has changed how, where and in some cases when, we work, learn and relax. And we’ve seen the acceleration of existing trends such as digitisation, remote working and online commerce as well as a seismic shift towards digital working, learning and consumption.
“Even after the COVID-19 crisis subsides, it is reasonable to expect that infrastructure demand will continue to increase. As NI moves towards reopening its doors for business, the roll-out of Full Fibre broadband infrastructure will be a key enabling technology. It will allow the region to compete with competitor nations, to boost incomes and standards of living and meet policy objectives of digitisation, improved sustainability and further embracing globalisation.”