NI Broadband plans get positive response

Enterprise Minister, Ian Pearson today announced a positive response to a Europe-wide tender for broadband services in Northern Ireland.

The Minister revealed that around 50 parties had expressed an initial interest in the tender and by the closing date of last month, a total of 27 organisations and consortia had responded to the Government’s call for assistance in the telecommunications agenda.

Mr Pearson said: “My Department is currently examining these responses to identify an initial shortlist who will be invited to provide further details on their proposals. Following responses to this invitation, my officials will initiate bi-lateral discussions from which it is expected we can identify a tender winner which I hope to announce before the end of this year.”

A Prior Information Notice was published in the European Journal on 7 May to give advance notice that DETI was considering the issue a tender for the provision of broadband services.

Currently broadband services such as Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) or cable modem are only available in Belfast, Londonderry and a small number of rural cities and towns.

The Government said the purpose of the tender, which is based on best value for use of public monies, is to provide a standard of broadband services to be delivered across Northern Ireland.

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