NIO Economy Minister Ian Pearson has been to visit leading broadband internet, cable television and telephone company NTL, where he was able to see at firsthand the benefits of high-speed broadband.

At the company's Belfast office, Ian Jeffers, Managing Director, NTL Home in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and Trevor Edgar, Area Director NTL Business in Northern Ireland, updated the Minister on company developments and future plans.

Commenting on his visit, the Minister said it gave him a welcome opportunity to learn about the company's involvement in the local market and to hear about its plans for the future.

"It is particularly pleasing that the strong standing of its Belfast operation has resulted in it becoming responsible for handling call work from other UK regions, including Wales and Scotland," he added.

The company, which is the leading provider of residential broadband services in Northern Ireland, provides a broadband connection that can be up to 20 times faster than a dial-up connection.

However, while broadband connection is a major attraction for internet usage, a recent research, commissioned by Yellow Pages in Northern Ireland, has revealed that a staggering 60% of adults still do not use the internet at all.

But, more encouragingly, the research also shows that almost 20% of those questioned logged on for the first time last year and more than one in 10 use the internet almost every day.

(MB)