Northern Ireland’s new Next Generation Broadband set to drive knowledge economy growth

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND: 3 December 2009 – The announcement today by Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster that almost £50 million will be invested in Northern Ireland’s telecoms infrastructure follows the successful completion of a competitive procurement process led on behalf of the government by Analysys Mason, global adviser on telecoms, technology and media (www.analysysmason.com).

Welcoming the announcement, Pat Kidney, Head of Analysys Mason in Ireland, said, “This project is among the first next-generation broadband interventions, and builds on Analysys Mason’s experience around the world of advising governments on these types of project.”

Kidney adds: “The major investments by BT Ireland and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment will have a significant impact on Northern Ireland’s economy. Broadband penetration is well known to have a positive effect on GDP, and this project will boost broadband take-up in the region – particularly in the business sector.

“The process has highlighted the challenges for any region seeking to invest in next-generation broadband. It requires careful compliance with European state aid guidelines, the development of complex contracts, and at a strategic level needs to balance intervention with natural market forces.

“The funding has come from multiple sources, with BT investing £29.8 million, and a further £18 million from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the EU under the ERDF Competitiveness Programme and the ERDF Rural Development Programme.”

Lead consultant on the project Gordon Mooney added. “The project will involve the deployment of more fibre-optic cable deeper into the towns, villages and countryside, and upgrades to equipment across 166 exchanges in Northern Ireland. This will create a step change in the broadband speeds available to business and consumers, especially those closer to the fibre access points, and will provide a platform for further fibre expansion in the years to come.”

Next-generation broadband is a vital investment for any country seeking to build a knowledge economy, and Analysys Mason is currently working on a number of next-generation intervention projects worldwide. The public sector is taking an increasingly active interest in the evolution of telecoms infrastructure, and Analysys Mason continues to be the partner of choice to advise on this complex area across all geographies.