Fibrus, an Infracapital-backed broadband ISP, is making significant strides in its mission to address digital poverty in rural and regional areas. The company is currently rolling out a new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across both Northern Ireland and the North of England, and it aims to reach a total of one million premises over the next three years (by Q1 2026).
Fibrus has already deployed its full fibre network to approximately 200,000 premises across parts of Northern Ireland and the North of England, using a mix of commercial build and public investment. The provider’s near-term target is to raise this to 500,000 UK premises by March 2024, of which around 350,000 would be in Northern Ireland. However, the company’s CEO, Dominic Kearns, has revealed plans to expand its workforce to around 1,000 staff and to increase full fibre network coverage to one million premises. The coverage includes around 400,000 premises in Northern Ireland, more than the 350k previously envisaged for the region. The remaining 600,000 will come from their work across England and Scotland, and Fibrus intends to deliver 250,000 premises per year for several years.
Fibrus’s approach to building its own full fibre network and operating as a retail ISP on the same platform (vertically integrated) has enabled the company to provide a seamless and efficient service to its customers. Furthermore, Fibrus, much like Cityfibre, is in the process of upgrading its older Gigabit Passive Optical Network (G-PON) technology to 10Gbps (symmetric) capable XGS-PON, which should deliver various efficiency, speed, power consumption, and cost improvements to their rollout.
Fibrus has attracted around £700m of committed capital, including £200m from investors, £220m from a banking consortium, and the rest as public subsidy. The public subsidies include £197m Project Stratum – 85,000 premises by March 2025 in Northern Ireland – and the £108m Project Gigabit contract for 60,000 premises in Cumbria, England – Hyperfast GB.
Fibrus’s expansion plans are timely, as demand for fast and reliable broadband is expected to continue growing in the coming years. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of high-speed internet connectivity, as remote work and online education have become increasingly prevalent. Fibrus’s goal to expand its workforce and fibre network is part of its mission to provide high-quality broadband services to customers who have been historically underserved due to a lack of investment from traditional providers.
The company’s commitment to expanding its fibre network will enable more customers to access reliable and affordable broadband, which can have a significant impact on their lives. For example, it can enable access to online education, remote work opportunities, and other digital services. By investing in full fibre networks, Fibrus intends to bring reliable and affordable broadband to those who need it most, particularly in rural and regional areas where there has been a lack of investment.
Fibrus’s plans to operate as an ISP on other networks in the future could potentially broaden its reach and further increase its market share. Various other alternative networks are building wholesale accessible FTTP infrastructure across the UK (e.g. Cityfibre, Openreach, FullFibre Ltd. etc.) which could complement Fibrus’s own coverage.
Customers of Fibrus typically pay from £39.99 (discounted to £19.99) per month for an unlimited 150Mbps (30Mbps upload) package with anincluded router and free installation, which rises to £59.99 (discounted to £44.99) per month for their top 1000Mbps (300Mbps upload) tier on a 24-month contract term. However, the service discounts may vary between different parts of their build.
Fibrus’s ambitious expansion plans have been enabled by its committed capital, which includes significant investments from investors and a banking consortium, as well as public subsidies. The company’s approach to building its own full fibre network has enabled it to provide a seamless and efficient service to its customers, and its plans to upgrade to XGS-PON technology will further enhance the quality and speed of its services.
Moreover, Fibrus’s commitment to addressing digital poverty in rural and regional areas is a positive development for customers who have long been underserved by traditional broadband providers. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of high-speed internet connectivity, and Fibrus’s expansion plans will enable more customers to access reliable and affordable broadband, which can have a significant impact on their lives.
Fibrus’s mission to provide high-quality broadband services to customers who have been historically underserved due to a lack of investment from traditional providers is commendable. By investing in full fibre networks, the company is creating infrastructure for the next half-century, and it intends to play its part in delivering it.
In conclusion, Fibrus’s expansion plans are a positive development for customers in rural and regional areas who have long been underserved by traditional broadband providers. By investing in full fibre networks, the company is creating infrastructure that will enable more customers to access reliable and affordable broadband, which can have a significant impact on their lives. With its committed capital and ambitious plans to expand its workforce and fibre network, Fibrus is well-positioned to address digital poverty and provide high-quality broadband services to customers across the UK.
