Nearly 3,000 homes and businesses in rural areas around Cookstown are to become connectable to high speed broadband.
The new broadband infrastructure is being rolled out by telecoms company Fibrus, which specialises in full fibre broadband solutions for rural and regional communities.
Fibrus went live in Cookstown last summer and has now extended its broadband infrastructure to surrounding areas, taking in villages such as Moneymore, Ballinderry, Coagh, and Killucan.
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Explaining what this means for the people living and working in the wider Cookstown area, Colin Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer at Fibrus, said the new connectivity will bring opportunities to rural areas.
“Fibrus was established to enhance the lives of those living in areas such as Moneymore, Ballinderry and Coagh," Hutchinson said.
"For too long, regions across Northern Ireland have gone without quality connectivity services, despite being a hub for local businesses and family homes.”
Colin explained that the need for high speed internet in rural areas has been sped up by the coronavirus >Covid 19 pandemic.
“Many people are continuing to work from home, albeit in a hybrid model. That’s why access to high-speed reliable broadband has become like any other utility for modern homes and businesses – it’s as essential as electricity and heating.
“The arrival of full fibre broadband in rural areas will revolutionise the way families and businesses go about their day-to-day lives."
Welcoming the development, Mid Ulster MLA and Sinn Féin vice President Michelle O’Neill said: “It is great to see Fibrus coming to the wider Cookstown area, and indeed other rural communities across the North.
"Providing the area with the ability to connect to full fibre broadband will enhance the lives of local residents and businesses through access to a secure broadband connection.”
DUP MLA Keith Buchanan also welcomed the news: “Its been exciting to see how this full fibre broadband rollout has positively impacted on Cookstown and I’m delighted to see that the service has now been rolled out to the wider area, taking in rural communities in the constituency.
"It is vital that families and businesses in rural communities have access to affordable quality broadband. I’m delighted to welcome Fibrus to the area.”
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