DUP Democratic Unionist Party : Bell welcomes pilot scheme to improve broadband to Counties Antrim and Fermanagh

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell has welcomed a new scheme aimed at improving broadband speeds.

The scheme is available to homes and businesses, as well as community and voluntary organisations, in Counties Antrim and Fermanagh with slow or no broadband.

The Minister said: 'I am pleased Counties Antrim and Fermanagh have been chosen to be part of this project, which is offering a number of subsidised satellite broadband installations and packages to households. Poor broadband speeds can often be an issue for people and businesses in rural areas. Satellite broadband offers a cost effective alternative to farmers, agricultural businesses and people living in rural locations to improve their broadband speeds.

'Faster broadband can open up new opportunities for education, leisure, and business, delivering the services our local people need, and I would encourage people to investigate if they could benefit from this programme.

'Over 15,000 properties are eligible for the subsidised superfast broadband scheme, which is powered by Avanti Communications and delivered across both counties by Service Providers Avonline Broadband and Europasat. I would encourage all those who are eligible to sign up before the deadline at the end of March 2016 to benefit fully from the scheme.'