NIACT announce high-speed business road show

The Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications (NIACT) is joining forces with the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, in highlighting the lack of affordable high-speed internet access in the Province.

Starting today, NIACT will hold seven seminars across Northern Ireland to highlight the lack of access to Broadband internet in the province.

Commenting on the two-hour lunchtime seminars, Courtenay Thompson, Chairman of NIACT said: "There is a worrying lack of access to Broadband internet in Northern Ireland. Many businesses and homes are crying out for high-speed access, but none of the operators will come in and supply it.

"Therefore we are going to help raise awareness and encourage councils to co-ordinate demand for these services, so that the companies involved have no other choice than to come in an supply it".

At each seminar there will be opportunities to hear about local companies who have made a success with broadband internet. They will describe their experiences and answer the question ‘Why would I want that?’

There will be demonstrations with equipment visitors can use, and explanations of where you can go to get the technology, and who supplies it in each area.

Welcoming the events, Frank Hewitt, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are delighted to be involved in these events, as we have been lobbying for these technologies for our members for some time already. Northern Ireland needs high-speed access quickly if we are to overcome the disadvantages of our peripherality to Europe. It is essential for our future prosperity to have the best access to the world markets via the Internet.’

The roadshows will take place on the following dates: October 14, Glenavon House Hotel, Cookstown; October 16, City Hotel, Londonderry; October 21, Armagh City Hotel, Armagh; October 23, Rosspark Hotel, Kells, Ballymena; October 25, Enniskillen Town Hall, Enniskillen; Canal Court Hotel, Newry; and October 30, NICVA, Belfast.

Anyone interested in the seminars, which are free and open to the public, should contact NIACT directly on tel. 028 9024 4631 or email niact@acts.org.uk to register at least two days before each event.

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