Derry Broadband Voucher Scheme hailed a major success

Over 250 local businesses across Derry and Strabane have benefitted from a special government scheme geared towards boosting the broadband capabilities of companies.

The Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme offered companies funding of up to £3,000 to significantly improve their broadband speeds and in turn their productivity, as part of a £40million fund put up by the Department of Culture Media and Sport.

The programme was delivered by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund.

Businesses from a wide spectrum of industries across the district are among 55,000 companies who have signed up for the scheme since its launch, and the initiative is being lauded as a major success.

Head of Business with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Kevin O’Connor, said local companies were already seeing the benefits of the scheme.

He added: “The Voucher Scheme offered local small to medium enterprises the opportunity to improve their business performance by reaping the many benefits of increased superfast broadband. The district already has a superior digital infrastructure and this upgraded service will now allow companies to get the very best from their service providers.

“Businesses are now enjoying faster download speeds, increased security, enhanced efficiency and overall improvement in customer service levels. The scheme’s success is the latest step in a series of Council led initiatives geared towards improving our digital offering and establishing the district as a world class hub for global businesses.”