NI's broadband supplier chosen

["Mark McCall" <lists@xxxxxxx>]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3463275.stm


The government has chosen BT as the "preferred supplier" for
installing
broadband services across Northern Ireland.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is seeking the best way
to provide "comprehensive and equitable broadband services"
across the
region.
Twenty-seven companies had competed for the contract which was put up for
tender last July.
The deal is seen as an important milestone in the government's vision for
telecommunications in the province.

Further negotiations are planned between the DETI and BT and Enterprise
Minister Ian Pearson said the deal offered a "real opportunity".
"It means that Northern Ireland has a real opportunity to be the first
region of the UK to have 100% coverage of broadband services," he
said.
"This will allow all our businesses, even those in the most rural
locations,
to avail of broadband services to compete in the global market."
The minister added that the tender had attracted a good response from
industry, and that the evaluation of bids had been very thorough.
"The process clearly identified that the bid by BT offers the best
prospect
of securing a value for money service for the people and businesses of
Northern Ireland," he said.
However, Mr Pearson also said that a number of issues remained to be
resolved before the Department was in a position to confirm a contract with
BT.
"Further negotiations will be held with the company and final
decisions will
not take place until they have been satisfactorily concluded. I expect this
to be later this month," he added.
Last October, DETI published the government's plan for telecommunications
in
Northern Ireland which set a number of targets.
Northern Ireland should become the leading broadband region in the UK
The province should be the first region in the UK to have 100% coverage of
broadband services
That there should be 100% broadband access for all households and
businesses
by the end of 2005.
At present only 60% of the population have access to broadband, with a
take-up of barely 10%.



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