Freedom Fibre has begun work to bring full-fibre to homes and businesses in North Shropshire as part of the UK government’s £5billion Project Gigabit programme.

In May 2023, Freedom Fibre won a £24million government contract to connect 12,000 hard-to-reach premises. In addition to this, Freedom Fibre will connect an additional 60,000 premises, transforming broadband speeds and reliability for residents and businesses owners.

Following several months of extensive design work and surveys, work to connect homes and businesses to Freedom Fibre’s lightning-fast, full-fibre network began this month (March 2024) and is expected to finish by the end of 2026.

Neil McArthur MBE, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Fibre, said: “We are delighted to be rolling out our lightning-fast, full-fibre network across North Shropshire. This investment will be transformational, unleashing so much potential for residents and businesses alike.”

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said: “With a £24 million boost from the UK Government, North Shropshire is poised for a digital revolution. Lightning-fast, reliable broadband will connect thousands of rural homes and businesses, ushering in a new era of opportunity and economic growth for the region.

“As part of Project Gigabit, we’re rolling out gigabit-capable networks faster than any other country in Europe, putting an end to buffering and bad connections. It’s great to see how our plan for better broadband is helping rural Shropshire transform, with huge leaps in available internet speeds now on their way to the most hard-to-reach homes and businesses.”

As part of the project, Freedom Fibre has committed to a range of social value commitments, such as tree planting, volunteer days and financial support for good and green community projects.