DETI Press Release - November 2008
The £3.9m project, financed under the European Regional Development Fund Sustainable Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013, has two specific objectives - to stimulate take-up of broadband within, and increase the level of e-business activity undertaken by, local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While the programme will carry a specific rural focus to promote the value of broadband in Western areas where existing levels of take-up are below the Northern Ireland average, access to the support is available to every SME in Northern Ireland.
Those SMEs participating in the programme will have access to 'supplier neutral' expert broadband advice, delivered by teams of trained broadband advisers operating out of fixed and mobile demonstration centres, who will develop and deliver tailored action plans.
Following a competitive tender process, the contract for delivery of the service was awarded to Commendium in November 2008. Work is now underway to establish the fixed demonstration centre in premises in Omagh and to procure the mobile centre which will cover all of Northern Ireland. The service is scheduled to be fully operational by mid 2009 with the commissioning of the demonstration centres and will run until 2013.