Rural towns in North get broadband 'hot spots'

Mobile broadband hot spots are being created in rural towns, it was announced today.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said contracts worth £108,000 (€14,691) had been awarded to two companies to set up the hot spots in Antrim, Ballycastle, Enniskillen and Newcastle.

Using state-of-the-art wireless technologies, mobile broadband customers will have a fast, simple and cost effective means of connecting to the internet over laptops, mobile phones and mobile entertainment devices.

A hot spot can range from a single building to an entire town and users can roam within them.

Mrs Foster said: “Today’s announcement signifies another investment by DETI aimed at providing a boost to the development of Northern Ireland’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

“These four projects will deliver local wi-fi hot spots, in rural locations, which can be extended as and when demand grows.

Benefits from the hot spots extend beyond those for those using the service. “Those businesses offering mobile broadband from their premises within the hot spot region can also benefit financially by selling access time to the user.

“It is increasingly a service provided by businesses such as cafes, hotels and guest houses, as the modern broadband user demands the freedom of having mobile internet access,” said the minister.

Contracts have been awarded by DETI to Banbridge, Co Down company Air-Net Wireless Ltd and London-based Cloud Networks Ltd.

The minister said it was her aim to see all four services operating by the end of March.