Northern Ireland Broadband Fund

The £1.9m Broadband Fund, which is co-financed under the European Regional Development Fund Sustainable Competitive Programme 2007 - 2013, offers practical financial support to organisations undertaking broadband technology trials in Northern Ireland.

The Fund aims to support trials which demonstrate how a range of technologies can be used to deliver next generation broadband services; and deploying "in-fill" solutions into a number of priority rural areas in Northern Ireland where distance from the nearest telephone exchange prevents a line-based broadband service.

Following six successful calls for applications, the following projects are currently being supported by the Fund, with a total contribution from DETI/ERDF of £1.1m.

North West Electronics Ltd  - installation of a WiMAX Fixed Wireless Access Network in the Dungannon, Larne, Antrim, Fermanagh, Down, Armagh, Ballymena and Newry and Mourne areas, providing business and residential customers access to high-speed broadband.

British Telecom Plc - installation of fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) technology to 23 cabinets in the Benburb, Crossmaglen, Downpatrick, Forkhill, Hillsborough, Larne and Newtownhamilton exchange areas.  Once complete, this project will deliver access to high speed broadband services of up to 40Mbps to almost 8500 business & residential premises in the target areas. Further information can be found at www.fasterbroadbandni.com   <NEW>

H2O Ireland Ltd - delivery of a dark fibre network in Enniskillen town using the waste water infrastructure, which will be the first deployment of such a solution in Northern Ireland. This presents significant opportunities for businesses requiring high-speed, state of the art broadband services.

North West Electronics Ltd - installation of a WiMAX Fixed Wireless Access Network in the North Antrim Coast area of Northern Ireland, providing business and residential customers access to high-speed broadband.

North West Electronics – installation of a WiMAX Fixed Wireless Access Network in the North Sperrin and Foyle Basin areas of Northern Ireland. This will enable residential and business customers to access high-speed broadband.

Net 1 Ltd – delivery of broadband internet access using fixed wireless technology, covering areas in Fermanagh and South Tyrone running from Augher to the south-east of Lough Melvin.

North West Electronics – installation of a Metro Ethernet Microwave & WiMAX Wireless Broadband Network in the west of Northern Ireland, including the Eskragh, Greencastle and Ballyronan areas. Once complete, this will provide business and residential customers with high-speed broadband access.

Avanti Communications – installation of an Integrated Rural Broadband Network, which will trial satellite broadband infrastructure to deliver low cost 2G and 3G mobile telephony coverage to rural areas in the west of Northern Ireland. Areas covered will include Ballintoy and Ballinamallard. As part of the project, an Iburst trial of a mobile broadband wireless access system will also be delivered in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast.

Link to Managing Authority website: http://www.detini.gov.uk/deti-euro-prog-index.htm