New telecoms cable reaches Ireland

The programme is part of a £25 million joint scheme known as Project Kelvin run by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Belfast and its Dublin counterpart, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

US transatlantic submarine cable provider Hibernia Atlantic has now landed the conduit at Portrush, Co Antrim, with the aim of providing improved connection with North America and Europe.

This is a historic milestone for both Northern Ireland and for Project Kelvin. The new cable will connect Northern Ireland, for the first time, directly to North America and greatly improve connectivity with Europe

Arlene Foster

Enterprise Minister

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "This is a historic milestone for both Northern Ireland and for Project Kelvin. The new cable will connect Northern Ireland, for the first time, directly to North America and greatly improve connectivity with Europe. When combined with the new terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure, currently under construction across Northern Ireland, it will put us at the heart of the global economy.

She encouraged local businesses to take advantage of the cable, saying the province would now have access to the same international telecommunications services as found in major cities including London, Amsterdam and New York.

The flagship project was one of a number of actions being taken under the Programme for Government to capitalise on Northern Ireland's world-class telecommunications infrastructure.

"In these difficult economic times, telecommunications has an important role to play both in helping our companies continue to compete, and in providing access to new and emerging markets, in preparation for the upturn in the world economy," she added.

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