Northern Ireland funds broadband push
Kablenet.com
Published: 12 Aug 2008 09:24 BST
The Northern Ireland Executive has unveiled a £1.9m fund to promote the extension of broadband services.
Economy minister Arlene Foster launched the Northern Ireland Broadband Fund, which will provide support to businesses undertaking technology trials related to the rollout of high-speed broadband.
It is financed under the European Regional Development Fund Sustainable Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, and will have a particular focus on the delivery of broadband services to rural areas.
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Although broadband is widely available around Northern Ireland, the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment believes there is a need for more competition among suppliers in rural areas, and to increase average speeds. A spokesperson told GC News that the fund will help to identify options for the delivery of services in the future.
"The delivery of next-generation broadband services is high on the agenda of the Northern Ireland Assembly," Foster said. "The fund provides an excellent opportunity to pilot emerging technologies that will inevitably be part of the range of broadband solutions.
"One of our biggest challenges will be to identify affordable, commercially sustainable solutions for the delivery of services into rural areas. That challenge is not unique to Northern Ireland and successes under the fund carry the potential for global application."
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