A NEW telecoms provider has been launched, with plans to invest over £100 million in the local network.
Following a joint venture between Belfast-based telecoms and technology group b4b and local entrepreneur, Conal Henry, Fibrus has been created and aims to develop the fibre network in the north.
The new venture, which will incorporate b4b’s existing network, is already developing fibre network services to 4,500 businesses and seeks to solve the lack of fibre and the lack of competition impacting on the Northern Ireland’s telecom market. Fibrus will develop and operate fibre networks on a purely wholesale open access basis, creating choice for service providers and competition for local consumers.
Over the next five years Fibrus expects to invest over £100m in a range of projects targeting businesses, domestic customers as well as local authorities in a bid to attract economic development to towns and cities.
Dominic Kearns CEO of b4b group said the creation of the new provider stems from frustration at the local infrastructure.
"As a telecoms provider in Northern Ireland we see first-hand the importance of world class communications infrastructure. We are also very frustrated by lack of full fibre investment by BT in the province’s infrastructure so we decided to do something about it."
"I am delighted to join forces with Conal to launch Fibrus and with experience in building and operating fibre networks we believe we can shake up Northern Ireland’s communications landscape," he said.
Belfast-born, Conal Henry, who recently led telecoms company enet to pole position in the Republic's National Broadband Plan, added:
"High quality communications infrastructure is the cornerstone of economic development in the 21st century and it is too important to be left to former monopolists invested in copper. My experience is in disrupting those monopolies by developing high quality open access fibre networks in every town and village like I oversaw in the south of Ireland. We are already in discussions with service providers, public sector entities, infrastructure owners and investors and we are excited about the opportunity.”
