BT Openreach has successfully completed its comprehensive fibre broadband rollout across Derry/Londonderry, making it one of the first cities in Northern Ireland to achieve near-universal full-fibre coverage. This landmark achievement represents years of planning, investment, and careful engineering work across the historic city.
Project Completion
The multi-million pound project has connected over 45,000 premises across the city and surrounding areas, providing residents and businesses with access to ultrafast broadband speeds of up to 1 Gbps. The rollout covered all major residential areas, from the Cityside to the Waterside, ensuring equal access to high-speed connectivity.
This achievement represents a major milestone in Northern Ireland's digital transformation and positions Derry/Londonderry as a leader in digital connectivity across the region. Local businesses and residents now have access to some of the fastest internet speeds available anywhere in Ireland or the UK.
Technical Infrastructure
The project involved installing over 400 kilometers of new fibre optic cable throughout the city, utilizing both underground ducting and overhead installations where appropriate. Openreach engineers worked carefully to preserve the historic character of the city while ensuring comprehensive coverage.
The new network supports both FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) and FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) technologies, with the majority of connections being full-fibre FTTP installations. This ensures that customers receive the maximum possible speeds with minimal degradation due to copper connections.
Economic Impact
The completion of this infrastructure project is expected to have significant economic benefits for the Derry/Londonderry area. Local businesses can now compete more effectively in the global marketplace, while the city becomes more attractive to technology companies considering relocation or expansion.
The improved connectivity supports the growing fintech sector in the city, enables remote work opportunities, and facilitates the development of digital startups. Universities and educational institutions also benefit from research-grade connectivity speeds.
Customer Adoption
Initial customer adoption rates have exceeded expectations, with over 60% of eligible premises already ordering full-fibre services. This high uptake demonstrates the pent-up demand for high-speed connectivity in the area and validates Openreach's investment decision.
Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the installation process and the dramatic improvement in speeds achieved. Many customers report speed increases of 10-20 times their previous connection.