Mobile broadband hot spots set for rural Northern Ireland

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has confirmed the award of contracts to create mobile broadband hot spots in Enniskillen, Antrim, Ballycastle and Newcastle.

Using state-of-the-art wireless technologies, mobile broadband (wi-fi) customers will have a fast, simple and cost effective means to connect to the Internet over laptops, mobile phones and mobile entertainment devices.

‘Hot spots’ are buildings or locations where it is possible to access the internet without the need for cables or wires. They also offer much faster broadband speed connections than traditional dial-up connections when travelling away from the home or office.

A hot spot can range from a single business to an entire town, with its size determining the coverage area in which users can ‘pick up’ the wireless signal and get fast internet access. Hot spots can grow to cover larger areas by adding additional access points. Users can roam within a hot spot area and continue to have access instead of having to stay in a particular part of a building or area.

Arlene Foster announced the award worth £108,000 of funds from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to two companies, to deliver the wi-fi networks; Air-Net Wireless Limited from Banbridge and the Cloud Networks Limited, from London.

The Minister said: “Today’s announcement signifies another investment by DETI aimed at providing a boost to the development of Northern Ireland’s Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, (SMEs). These four projects will deliver local wi-fi hot spots, in rural locations, which can be extended as and when demand grows.”

Benefits from the provision of wi-fi hotspots, extend beyond those for local companies using the mobile service. The Minister continued: “Those businesses offering mobile broadband from their premises within hot spot region, can also benefit financially by selling access time to the user.

“It is increasingly a service provided by businesses such as cafes, hotels and guest houses, as the modern broadband user demands the freedom of having mobile internet access.”

The Minister is fully committed to examining further ways to stimulate take-up and use of broadband services within Northern Ireland’s SME community.

Arlene Foster said: “I announced in December, a £3.9million project to deliver practical and free broadband advice to SMEs. Today’s investment in the development of hot spots complements this, by providing opportunities which can demonstrate to those participating businesses how broadband can improve and accelerate the way they do business.”

Arlene Foster encouraged businesses and the local Councils to exploit the opportunities that this project will bring. The Minister said: “It is my aim to see these services become operational by the end of March 2009. It is therefore very important that all stakeholders, including the local Councils in each area, prioritise those business locations best suited for the deployment of mobile broadband access equipment.

“It is imperative that modern broadband services are made as widely available as possible across Northern Ireland, as we seek to improve business efficiency, productivity and globalisation of products and services.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Details on these projects are available by request (telephone 028 9052 9560).
2. Media enquiries please contact DETI Press Office, telephone 028 9052 9297. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.