Menu
03/12/2009
Broadband Boosts Rural NI
A fresh investment of almost £50m in 'Next Generation Broadband' will be a great boost to towns, villages and the entire rural community across Northern Ireland.
According to Stormont Agriculture & Rural Development Minister, Michelle Gildernew, (pictured), this fillip includes a £1.5million contribution from her department and will see a big improvement in the telecommunications infrastructure.
It will allow the introduction over the next 18 months of new technology to increase broadband speeds.
"This will be well received throughout as it will bring higher speed broadband to many by 2011.
"It is something which will be warmly welcomed by farmers and rural dwellers as there are some who have difficulties in accessing the technology at the moment.
"It will be a big advance and I welcome the fact that I have been able to play our part by investing around £1.5million. It will make a real difference to the rural economy," she said.
"I hope this project will overcome the barriers some rural communities currently face in accessing broadband. It is increasingly an important means of ensuring access to services and social inclusion for those living in rural areas.
"It is my role to champion rural issues across the Executive and I think this initiative is an excellent step forward," she continued.
"Access to high speed high quality broadband services is an important tool in supporting rural businesses to maintain their competitiveness and develop new market opportunities.
"Accessible rural broadband is also increasingly important as a means of ensuring access to services and social inclusion for those living in rural areas throughout the north of Ireland.
"This project is an example of which can be achieved from departments and agencies working together to improve equality of services in both rural and urban areas."
BT is investing £29m with further input coming from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the EU.
The contract will involve the deployment of more fibre optic cable deeper into urban districts, towns, villages and countryside.
There will be upgrades to equipment across 157 exchanges and the introduction of new technology to increase broadband speeds to businesses.
(BMcC/KMcA)
According to Stormont Agriculture & Rural Development Minister, Michelle Gildernew, (pictured), this fillip includes a £1.5million contribution from her department and will see a big improvement in the telecommunications infrastructure.
It will allow the introduction over the next 18 months of new technology to increase broadband speeds.
"This will be well received throughout as it will bring higher speed broadband to many by 2011.
"It is something which will be warmly welcomed by farmers and rural dwellers as there are some who have difficulties in accessing the technology at the moment.
"It will be a big advance and I welcome the fact that I have been able to play our part by investing around £1.5million. It will make a real difference to the rural economy," she said.
"I hope this project will overcome the barriers some rural communities currently face in accessing broadband. It is increasingly an important means of ensuring access to services and social inclusion for those living in rural areas.
"It is my role to champion rural issues across the Executive and I think this initiative is an excellent step forward," she continued.
"Access to high speed high quality broadband services is an important tool in supporting rural businesses to maintain their competitiveness and develop new market opportunities.
"Accessible rural broadband is also increasingly important as a means of ensuring access to services and social inclusion for those living in rural areas throughout the north of Ireland.
"This project is an example of which can be achieved from departments and agencies working together to improve equality of services in both rural and urban areas."
BT is investing £29m with further input coming from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the EU.
The contract will involve the deployment of more fibre optic cable deeper into urban districts, towns, villages and countryside.
There will be upgrades to equipment across 157 exchanges and the introduction of new technology to increase broadband speeds to businesses.
(BMcC/KMcA)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
29 April 2002
Trimble launches Lisburn rural development strategy
"Northern Ireland’s rural communities are an essential part of our way of life and must be encouraged and assisted," according to the First Minister, David Trimble.
Trimble launches Lisburn rural development strategy
"Northern Ireland’s rural communities are an essential part of our way of life and must be encouraged and assisted," according to the First Minister, David Trimble.
03 August 2022
Vigilance Needed To Tackle Rural Crime – DUP
The DUP has called for vigilance to tackle rural crime, following the release of the NFUs Rural Crime Report 2022. The report showed a fall of over 33% in the number of incidents over the last 12 months in Northern Ireland, but that the rural crime in Northern Ireland in 2021 was valued at £1.7m.
Vigilance Needed To Tackle Rural Crime – DUP
The DUP has called for vigilance to tackle rural crime, following the release of the NFUs Rural Crime Report 2022. The report showed a fall of over 33% in the number of incidents over the last 12 months in Northern Ireland, but that the rural crime in Northern Ireland in 2021 was valued at £1.7m.
23 July 2014
£623m Allocated For Rural Development Programme
A budget of £623m has been allocated for the Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020, it has been announced. Rural Minister Michelle O’Neill has said the 2014-2020 RDP budget would be allocated across three specific areas: protecting the rural environment, developing rural economies and competitiveness of agriculture.
£623m Allocated For Rural Development Programme
A budget of £623m has been allocated for the Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020, it has been announced. Rural Minister Michelle O’Neill has said the 2014-2020 RDP budget would be allocated across three specific areas: protecting the rural environment, developing rural economies and competitiveness of agriculture.
17 November 2006
New support brochure for rural enterprises launched
As part of National Enterprise Week 2006, a new support brochure designed specifically for rural businesses called, 'A look at opening your business to new prospects' was launched at Loughry College, Cookstown.
New support brochure for rural enterprises launched
As part of National Enterprise Week 2006, a new support brochure designed specifically for rural businesses called, 'A look at opening your business to new prospects' was launched at Loughry College, Cookstown.
11 January 2010
Broadband Technology Boosts Rural Areas
Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced a further £88,000 for technology trials, to improve broadband services in rural areas across the country. The financial support, from the £1.9million Broadband Fund, has been awarded to two companies, H2O Ireland Limited and North West Electronics.
Broadband Technology Boosts Rural Areas
Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced a further £88,000 for technology trials, to improve broadband services in rural areas across the country. The financial support, from the £1.9million Broadband Fund, has been awarded to two companies, H2O Ireland Limited and North West Electronics.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
