Better broadband is a key priority towards growing the local economy as identified within Mid Ulster District Council’s 'Our Plan for Growth'.
The quality and reach of fixed broadband infrastructure in Mid Ulster is improving and ongoing initiatives are assisting such as:
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Project Gigabit is aimed at further improving broadband infrastructure in predominantly rural areas. The Department for the Economy NI (DfE) is leading on the delivery of Project Gigabit subject to final approvals in advance of a tender process. Following the Public Review launched in June 2023, DfE will confirm the premises which are potentially eligible for intervention.
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Project Stratum which is being led by the Department for the Economy has been developed making £150m available to maximise broadband coverage predominately in rural areas that are currently poorly served and not capable of attracting commercial investment. This project is currently at procurement stage and will take up to 4 years to fully deliver.
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Full Fibre Northern Ireland sees ten councils with the exception of Belfast forming as a Consortium to seek funding for Full Fibre Broadband. Each Council is to receive £1.5million of funding which they will maximise across their district. The first focus has to be connecting between public sector sites to new fibre optic lines. In doing this businesses and residents can benefit of this connection. This is due to commence in autumn 2019 in each area
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Better Broadband Voucher Scheme is available until 31 December 2019 and offers a subsidised basic broadband connection to anyone unable to get download speeds of at least 2 mbps. Eligible households and businesses can get the installation and hardware costs of their connection up the value of £400
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Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is currently available for small businesses and residents towards the installation cost of a gigabit-capable connection. Businesses can claim up to £2,500 against the cost and residents up to £500 as part of a group project.
Although Broadband is not a remit of Councils, we are one of the most actively engaged Councils lobbying the Department for the Economy for further improvements to broadband provision in Mid Ulster.
For help and advice
Please contact our business team at business@midulstercouncil.org or call 03000 132 132.