Plans to make lightning-fast broadband available in every part of Northern Ireland are moving ahead with a public review.
Project Gigabit has the goal of ensuring hard-to-reach areas can access rapid broadband, up to 1,000 megabits per second.
It's thought the government-backed project will mainly benefit rural areas.
Read more: High speed broadband rollout to 3,000 homes in Cookstown area
The Department for Economy has launched a public review with an address checker which allows people to check whether their address is correctly detailed in terms of coverage.
Following the Public Review, DfE will confirm the premises which are potentially eligible for intervention.
Nigel Robbins, Broadband Project Director at the Department for the Economy said: "High quality internet access is vital as we grow the economy.
"It supports daily activities from how we shop, study and work, to how we access public services. Businesses also need to know they have the best available broadband infrastructure as they trade locally or internationally.
"Fast and reliable broadband, in every part of Northern Ireland, is essential now and in the future.
"The Department’s goal is to ensure that the parts of Northern Ireland that need public intervention are targeted.
"The spread of identified premises for Project Gigabit are broad and mainly in rural areas. We are asking members of the public for their help in ensuring that the information the Department holds is as accurate as possible, which can be done by using our address checker and letting us know if they believe the information stated is incorrect."
Project Gigabit will be in addition to the department's other initiative, Project Stratum, which is also seeking to ensure that homes and businesses not included in broadband suppliers’ plans have access to the digital connectivity they need.
Nigel Robbins continued: "Both Project Gigabit and the Department’s Project Stratum will seek to ensure that premises across Northern Ireland, particularly those in rural areas, have access to the best available broadband services, future-proofing connectivity needs for generations to come."
Project Gigabit’s capital requirements in Northern Ireland will be funded by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
UK Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, Sir John Whittingdale, said: "Getting a better understanding of the extent and strength of existing coverage is an essential next step towards ensuring all of Northern Ireland has lightning-fast broadband through the UK Government’s £5billion Project Gigabit programme, particularly in more remote and rural areas.
"Public participation in this process will help each and every community to access the support they need to transform their digital infrastructure and unlock new opportunities."
It is believed Northern Ireland could become the first part of the UK to get near-full access to high broadband right across every part of the country.
READ NEXT:
- Concerns over BT 'eyesore' poles causing 'absolute chaos' in Lisburn & Castlereagh
- Northern Ireland's worst street for broadband revealed
- Fast broadband in NI now as crucial as gas and electricity says Openreach engineer
- Cost of living: Tips on how to improve your broadband speed without spending money
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
