North Gets First Direct Telecoms Link To U.S.

Co-financed under the INTERREG IVA programme 2007-2013, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI), in partnership with the Department of Communication, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) in the Republic of Ireland, have awarded a contract to Hibernia Atlantic Limited, following a competitive tendering process.

Access to the new telecommunications will be available on both sides of the border, delivering direct links with the USA and improved communication connections to Europe.

Announcing the award of the contract to Hibernia Atlantic Limited, the Minister said: "This €30 million investment will, for the first time, provide Northern Ireland with a direct telecommunications link to North America and greatly improve competition in the international telecommunications market.

"Northern Ireland businesses are competing more than ever for business in global markets. This project will deliver the kind of international telecommunications, companies located in London, Amsterdam, Dublin and New York already depend on. It will provide opportunities for Northern Ireland companies selling goods and services overseas and also improve our attractiveness to knowledge based inward investment."

Arlene Foster continued: "The current difficult economic situation makes it even more important that Northern Ireland businesses target overseas markets. This project will transform how we connect to both North America and Europe. It will open up new markets and new trade opportunities for Northern Ireland companies and I urge local companies to take full advantage of this technology."

Project Kelvin will involve connecting a new submarine cable to the Hibernia North Transatlantic cable located 22 miles off the north coast. The new cable will come ashore in the Portrush area initially and then onto a location where it can interconnect with the North's existing telecoms infrastructure.

The new international telecommunications link can be interconnected with the North's existing telecommunications infrastructure at a number of different locations throughout the North, including Armagh, Ballymena, Belfast, Coleraine, Londonderry, Omagh, Portadown and Strabane.

The Minister concluded: "We are investing in the future of Northern Ireland and in the infrastructure that will help our businesses to grow the local economy for the benefit of all."