Derry Culture Company 2013 says fibre broadband is crucial

Fibre optic broadband is "crucially important" for businesses in Derry, Northern Ireland, Culture Company 2013 has stated.

The independent organisation, formed to prepare Derry for its year as the UK's City of Culture, praised BT's work to upgrade 100 per cent of local street cabinets to support super-fast broadband technology.

Culture Company 2013 chairperson Martin Bradley said businesses in the area need all the help they can get given the current economic crisis and fibre optic broadband will help to provide this.

"Having the high-speed broadband connectivity that BT has given us will be a fantastic boost to the local economy," he remarked.

Thanks to the rollout, almost 39,000 homes and businesses in Derry are able to access up to 40Mbps fibre broadband, making it one of the best connected cities in the world.

Last month, Northern Ireland's Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said quality high-speed broadband is particularly important for rural firms, allowing them to compete and develop new opportunities.