THE CEO of Telecommunications company KN Circet has said there is potential for their design centre in the IDA business Park in Letterkenny to increase to 100 staff over the next 24 months.

 

Recruitment is currently underway with 40 jobs being created in the next six to 12 months but in an interview with the Donegal News this week Donagh Kelly said there is the potential for the workforce to increase to 100 over the next two years. 

 

Speaking from London the Frosses native said the demand for bandwidth is really driving the sector forward and said the rollout of the National Broadband Plan, which was signed off on this week, will create more work for the company.

 

Mr Kelly said: “We opened the design centre 18 months ago and due to initial success and continued demand we have taken it to a larger facility in the IDA Park where we are continuing to expand. We will officially launch it in January but it is actually live and people are in the there now.”

 

There is currently 20 staff working at the centre which is being run by Head of Planning and Design, Greg Mullen.

 

Mr Kelly added: “40 jobs will be created in six to 12 months. Active recruitment is happening as we speak and it could potentially grow to 100 staff in 24 months. The jobs created will be predominately in design but there will also be some administration.”

 

KN Circet is a named party to National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the consortium that will deliver the rollout. Mr Kelly said the rollout will not only increase day to day activity for the company but there is potential for the design centre to get work out of the seven year plan. The company will provide a full range of services for the consortium including surveying, designing, building and maintaining the new network with the majority of this work taking place at its Letterkenny base. 

 

“The demand for bandwidth is driving the rollout. The way we conduct our lives today, there is so much of it and that’s supported by the connectivity we are providing. The demand for fibre roll out is huge across Europe.”

 

Last year KN Group merged with French company Circet and Mr Kelly said this has provided them with many advantages.

 

“We are the largest telecom provider in Europe and that scale gives us many options in a much wider market. It gives us huge stability,” he said. 

 

The Letterkenny hub now caters for the UK as well as the domestic market and in time can be a European hub for the entire business. Mr Kelly said the North West is providing access to a high quality workforce which is putting the region on the map for expanding businesses. 

 

“I have been very pleasantly surprised about the abilities found with very qualified and committed engineers and technicians. We are finding the North West is providing a very stable workforce.”

 

Looking ahead to the future it is all positive news from the well known rally driver who is not too concerned about Brexit impacting expansion plans.

 

“I’m not concerned about Brexit. It won’t stop the need for connectivity. People won’t stop needing access to services remotely. With commerce so much of it is online now and so many services are provided digitally.”

 

Upgrading and refurbishment works are currently underway at the Letterkenny facility to get it ready for the official opening in January.