Northern Ireland seeks rural-broadband supplier
Kable
Published: 01 Oct 2008 11:46 BST
Northern Ireland is replacing a deal under which its citizens without fixed telephone lines get internet access.
The province's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) sent a tender notice to the Official Journal of the European Journal on Friday for a new deal to replace its existing contract with BT, which provides access by satellite.
DETI said it is open about the type of technology which it will purchase.
"The department recognises that there are many alternative methods of providing the broadband services required," a DETI spokesperson told GC News. "It is a matter for the supplier to decide on the most appropriate technology to use, provided that it adheres to the minimum specifications set out in the invitation to tender."
BT currently provides 100 percent broadband coverage across the province, but its contract expires in March next year. DETI said the expiry of the contract will have no impact on the vast majority of broadband users, who receive their broadband service via a telephone line.
However, the one percent of people who access broadband via satellite, mostly in rural areas, will have their service terminated on 1 April.
DETI minister Arlene Foster said the aim of the tender was to ensure that the broadband service to people living in remote areas without fixed-line broadband will be maintained.
"DETI wishes to reassure those affected customers that the migration process, from one service provider to another, will take place as a matter of urgency and free of charge," said Foster.
Those broadband users who are threatened with a loss of service are invited to register as a priority for migration to the new service, as soon as it is in place.
In 2006, Northern Ireland claimed to be the first region in Europe to have 100 percent high-speed internet access.
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