Irish Regions Office Website

January 13, 2010

North-South project about to revolutionise regional broadband access

A joint venture between the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and Northern Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give the island of Ireland a direct telecommunications link with North America has been shortlisted for the 2010 RegioStars, the awards for innovative projects supported by EU cohesion policy, in the category of ''broadband coverage in less developed regions or rural areas''.

Project Kelvin, a EUR32 million initiative including INTERREG 4A funding, is currently developing a hi-tech fibre-optic cable system to directly tap into the transatlantic telecommunications connection that links Canada and Cumbria. The 32km spur from Co. Derry will, in turn, interconnect with existing telecoms infrastructure on both sides of the border. This is set to substantially enhance the availability of faster, more reliable and cheaper broadband and direct international telecoms connectivity for companies in Letterkenny, Monaghan, Castleblaney, Drogheda and Dundalk as well as Belfast, Derry, Coleraine and Armagh. Until now this sort of communication has had to be routed through London-based networks with consequent impacts on cost and service quality. The benefits which access to the fastest connectivity line to North America will bring for locally-based US-owned firms are expected to be especially attractive. The investment is expected to be complete and operational by March.

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Posted by iroronan at January 13, 2010 12:56 PM