BT to propel N Ireland into the high-speed fibre big league

Region set to become one of the best connected areas in Europe

Northern Ireland is set to take the lead in Europe in terms of high-speed fibre rollout as BT accelerates investment in the region.

The investment will come as part of BT Group's £2.5bn fibre rollout in the UK, and will see the number of lines connected to a fibre broadband cabinet jumping from 54 to 88 per cent.

"Today's announcement by BT about fibre broadband rollout will see Northern Ireland setting the pace in the UK and Europe," said Declan Kelly, US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland.

"From a business perspective, the investment sends a clear signal about Northern Ireland's commitment to providing the infrastructure required by today's leading companies.

"I have no doubt that the fibre broadband investment will help attract significant new business to the region in the months and years to come," he added.

BT suggests Northern Ireland will be one of the best connected locations in the world, with more fibre deployed by March 2012 than most European countries will have by 2015.

This announcement comes as BT launches a new programme to tackle digital exclusion in Northern Ireland.

This scheme with see BT partner with voluntary organisation to provide communications technology resources for communities to help them get online.