Ormeau Broadband Moves Up To Next Stage

An innovative social housing development that provides residents with a choice of high speed broadband alternatives is now underway in south Belfast - and is set to switch to even faster speeds now that a trial has been completed.

The city is one of the first parts of the UK where residents are offered a choice of 'next generation' high speed broadband services.

This is the result of an initiative by the NI Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) who are responsible for telecommunications policy.

Following the trial, residents are now to be offered both high speed copper-based broadband services and fibre to the home.

Virgin Media and Bytel, the service providers, are currently offering 20 megabits per second speeds. As a result of the trial both companies now plan to offer customers even faster connectivity in the future based on this technology being installed.

Northern Ireland was the first region in Europe to have 100% broadband access and the DETI is actively exploring what will be needed to deliver widespread access to next generation broadband in its private sector.

Economy Minister Nigel Dodds, agreed that all broadband access is only the first goal in providing a high speed infrastructure in Northern Ireland: "We cannot be complacent. First generation broadband is rapidly being overtaken and the debate in the UK and in other countries is increasingly about higher speed, next generation broadband.

"We must look to the future and what has to be done to ensure our businesses and home users continue to have access to world class telecommunications."

Paul Robinson, of DETI's Telecommunications Policy Unit, said: "These trial high speed residential solutions were both implemented with little technical difficulties or major challenges. The cost of installing high speed equipment is no different to installing first generation broadband.

"These high speed service offerings will allow residents to obtain 'next generation' broadband services such as video on demand, high speed video and TV streaming, Voice over IP services and even more as new services which are purpose built for high speed IP are rolled out."

DETI has prepared a case study outlining the high speed residential trials in Belfast.

See: High-Speed Broadband For Belfast Tenants

(BMcC)