The Department for Social Development completes hand over of Fort George Telehouse

The Department for Social Development (DSD) has officially handed over the Project Kelvin Telehouse to Hibernia Atlantic, marking a further step in developing Derry’s Fort George site.

Hibernia Atlantic, the transatlantic cable firm, will now complete the fit-out of the facility. This will enable businesses across the North West to access high speed broadband communications with North America directly through a transatlantic communications network.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, said: "The successful completion of the Project Kelvin Telehouse at Fort George, is an example of how the public and private sectors can work together to deliver for Derry. My Department and Ilex will continue to work with the private sector to maximise both the benefits of the investment in Project Kelvin and the benefits this can deliver for all the people of the city."

Scott McClelland, North West Electronics (NWE) Group Managing Director added: "This is great news for the North West. With a top class facility connected directly to the project Kelvin infrastructure, we will have the facilities to connect businesses and enterprises to the shortest and fastest routes to the worlds internet exchanges. This is the first development of its type outside Belfast and Dublin and it will put us in the position to take full advantage of the first point in Europe that connects subsea cables to the United States.

"I would like to acknowledge the swift response of the Department for Social Development’s North West Development Office and Department for Regional Development's Roads Service who have facilitated the laying of 8km of fibre optic cables that will connect our new development to the Project Kelvin telehouse."

The Department had previously provided funding of £500,000 to Ilex, Derry’s regeneration company, enabling the Project Kelvin Telehouse to be constructed at Fort George. The location of this facility on the DSD-owned site, is seen as both an important marketing tool for the city and a trigger for further economic activity.

DSD also confirmed that it has given permission to NWE Wireless Networks, a local electronics company, to run a fibre optic cable from its offices at Skeoge Industrial Park through DSD land at Galliagh Linear Park to connect to the telehouse. This is the first practical example of local businesses benefiting from Project Kelvin.

The NWE Group is developing a Half Megawatt Datacentre. This facility will use the latest Green technologies to save 25% energy costs in comparison to other similar centres. NWE Group’s Communications House Building is presently being fitted out to house servers and routers providing access to the latest cloud computing solutions which connect and deliver content to the internet for businesses.

Notes to editors:

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