Project Stratum - introduction
Project Stratum is improving broadband connectivity by extending Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband infrastructure to approximately 81,000 premises across Northern Ireland that cannot yet access NGA broadband services. Following a procurement exercise, Fibrus Networks was appointed as the contractor for Project Stratum in November 2020.
Funding
£150m was allocated to the project as a result of the Confidence and Supply Agreement between the DUP and the Conservative and Unionist Party, along with additional funding of £15m secured through the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Further funding of £25m from Building Digital UK (BDUK) and an additional £4.85m each from DAERA and DfE have been secured to extend the project.
This brings the total amount of available funding for Project Stratum to £199m to help deliver substantial enhancements to Internet connectivity across Northern Ireland. Broadband coverage across the intervention area may also be extended through industry investment to ensure that as many premises are served as possible.
Please go to HyperfastNI to find out if your premises is within the current target intervention area.