New telecoms network operator to invest £100m over five years
A NEW telecommunications network operator has been formed in Northern Ireland with plans to invest £100m in the next five years.
Telecoms and technology group b4b, led by Dominic Kearns and entrepreneur Conal Henry, have set up Fibrus.
The new venture uses b4b’s existing network and is also developing fibre network services to 4,500 businesses.
A spokesman claimed Fibrus “seeks to solve the lack of fibre and the lack of competition that is strangling Northern Ireland’s telecom market”.
It is developing and operating fibre networks on a wholesale basis, offering another option to service providers.
Fibrus said it expects to invest more than £100m in the next five years on projects, including connecting 4,5000 businesses to full fibre networks, and targeting homes with “poor” copper wire services.
Mr Kearns, chief executive of b4b group, said he had been frustrated by “lack of full fibre investment in the province’s infrastructure”.
“We see first-hand the importance of world-class communications infrastructure,” Mr Kearns said.
“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.”
Belfast-born Mr Henry formerly led telecoms company Enet in the Republic, which has been acquired by the Ireland Infrastructure Fund in a €200m deal.
Mr Henry said: “We are already in discussions with service providers, public sector entities, infrastructure owners and investors.”
b4b was founded in 2014 and employs 36 staff from its head office in Belfast.