BT wins NI blanket broadband deal
PrintTime to snuggle down with DSL
Posted in Telecoms, 30th March 2004 07:45 GMT
Free webcast: Service level monitoring and management
Northern Ireland is to become the first region in Europe with blanket broadband coverage following confirmation that BT has won the contract to supply high-speed Internet services by the end of 2005.
BT was one of 27 companies and consortia from across Europe that responded to the tender. It was awarded the contract because it offered the "best value for money".
The contract is to be managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and funded by the EU Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme.
Announcing the deal yesterday, trade minister Ian Pearson said: "By the end of 2005 every household and every business in Northern Ireland, no matter how remote, will have access to broadband at the same price.
"Local businesses will have the level playing field they need to compete in a global economy.
"This vitally important contract will deliver the Government's broadband vision of a fully connected Northern Ireland. In turn it will help make Northern Ireland more competitive." ®
Related stories
BT favoured for big NI broadband deal
Northern Ireland offers broadband funds
Northern Ireland aims for 100pc broadband
What Exchange can't do - and Dell can
Enabling The Agile Data Center
Enterprise PBX buyer's guide
Analyst Keynote: The Register Agile Data Center Summit
Dirty, dirty PCs: The X-rated picture guide
Top 500 supers - rise of the Linux quad-cores
Early adopters bloodied by Ubuntu's Karmic Koala
Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter