Historic Milestone: Fibrus and Ministers Celebrate Project Stratum Success

We were pleased to welcome both the Economy Minister and the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister on customer visits to celebrate the end of Project Stratum. The visits were an opportunity to see how the lives of those in rural communities have been transformed since being connected to reliable, Full Fibre broadband.

Fibrus successfully delivered the £200million project which was the largest telecoms infrastructure project ever seen in Northern Ireland, on time and within budget, changing the lives of those in rural communities and offering them the same opportunities as their urban counterparts. Upon completion, the project brought full fibre broadband to over 81,000 premises across Northern Ireland. The venture was also backed by the Department for the Economy, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the UK Government.

Fibrus’ continued partnership with the government reflects its proven track record and commitment to regional development, with NI now boasting an impressive 95% connectivity rate, compared to a UK average of 86%, following the completion of Project Stratum.

To celebrate the conclusion of Project Stratum, The Economy Minister visited Lislagan Farm, located on the outskirts of Ballymoney. The farm was established in 2011 by Compass Advocacy Network (CAN), a charity working to improve the lives of children and adults living with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues.  Since becoming a Fibrus customer, Lislagan Farm has experienced a digital transformation, making hybrid working possible and expanding its services to support a wider scope of individuals.

Prior to opening the farm in 2021, the team at CAN struggled to find a broadband provider who could offer both a reliable and affordable connection in their rural location to service the community. The speed of Fibrus’ connection has transformed day-to-day work for the charity, allowing online meetings to be carried out smoothly, and youth groups the ability to vlog and stream online for their social campaigns.

Dr. Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister said:

“High quality internet access is vital for our economy and wider society. Supported by over £200m investment from both the public and private sector, Project Statum has made gigabit services available to 81,000 premises across the north, particularly in rural areas.  It has improved our broadband coverage across the north, supporting our businesses, our people and our communities, enabling our daily activities from how we shop, study and work, to how we access services.”

Dominic Kearns, Fibrus CEO, said:

“We’re extremely proud of the impact that Fibrus and Project Stratum has had on the homes and businesses that have received connections to our full fibre network to over the last 4 years of our roll out. Our team have travelled every road and lane to ensure this project got to the families and businesses that needed it most, on time and within budget.

“Helping rural communities to thrive is at the heart of everything we do at Fibrus, and we are delighted to have been able to aid the Compass Advocacy Network’s digital transformation at Lislagan Farm. We wish the team and the charity all the best for the future and look forward to seeing them continue to expand their services.” 

Linda McKendry, Compass Advocacy Network Director of Services said: “Connecting to Full Fibre broadband with the help of Fibrus has been essential to the farm’s recent transformation, supporting the next stage of growth and development for Lislagan Farm.

 “Thanks to Fibrus, we can now have the peace of mind that our future project plans won’t be hindered by a poor connection. The team has also been able to take advantage of hybrid working for the first time ever, which is something we never thought we would be able to say.”

The Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister visited a Fibrus Customer near Millisle whose home office was connected to Full Fibre broadband through Project Stratum in 2024, enabling him to run a global business and sell products worldwide from his rural base.”

Andrew Muir, DAERA Minister said:

“I am delighted to acknowledge the completion of Project Stratum and to take the opportunity to highlight some of the positive impacts the rollout of Project Stratum has had in rural communities throughout NI.  The social and economic benefits of Project Stratum have been transformative to rural communities providing affordable super-fast broadband, which is increasingly essential for education, employment, healthcare and reducing feelings of social isolation and loneliness”

Alan Lowry, Fibrus Customer and Chair of Federation of Small Businesses in Northern Ireland said:

“Running a global business means work often follows me home, but thanks to Fibrus, staying connected and productive has never been easier. Being connected to full fibre broadband has transformed how I operate. Whether I’m reviewing international orders late at night or joining video calls with clients overseas, the speed and reliability of the connection has made everything easier. It’s a game-changer for rural businesses like mine and a real boost for Northern Ireland’s economic potential.”