In a move which many people hope will be replicated throughout the UK it has been revealed that Northern Ireland-based broadband provider North West Electronics has received funding of £237,000 from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s £1.9 million broadband fund. This move was announced by Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and could see significant improvements in broadband services throughout Northern Ireland.
While the funds involved are relatively low compared to the cost of installing broadband services throughout Northern Ireland, they will offer a serious incentive for companies such as North West Electronics and other broadband providers in the region. More money would appear to be available as and when services are improved with particular emphasis placed upon rural communities where broadband services are not at their best.
The next few years are set to see broadband becoming a vital element of any online business with the ability to attract customers and carryout their instructions at speed becoming more and more important. Many businesses have been forced to move into cities and towns which support more reliable broadband services although there are obvious cost implications when doing this. While many believe that local government and the UK government should be taking more control of rural broadband services this is at least a step in the right direction.