Contracts have been awarded to create mobile broadband hot spots in Enniskillen, Antrim, Ballycastle and Newcastle, the Northern Ireland Enterprise Department has announced.

'Hot spots' are buildings or locations where it is possible to access the internet without the need for cables or wires. They also offer much faster broadband speed connections than traditional dial-up connections when travelling away from the home or office.

-- Advertisement --

Minister Arlene Foster announced the award worth £108,000 to two companies, to deliver the wi-fi networks; Air-Net Wireless Limited from Banbridge and the Cloud Networks Limited, from London.

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

The Minister said she is fully committed to examining further ways to stimulate take-up and use of broadband services within Northern Ireland's SME community.

In December, Ms Foster unveiled a £3.9m project to deliver practical and free broadband advice to SMEs.

The latest investment in the development of hot spots complements this, by providing "opportunities which can demonstrate to those participating businesses how broadband can improve and accelerate the way they do business", according to the Minister.

(PR/JM)