Northern Ireland has become the first region in Europe to have 100% access to high speed Broadband Deals. Almost £10m of European funding has been invested to make broadband universally available in NI, enabling broadband providers to provide services to all who want them.

This is a significant achievement for Northern Ireland. Broadband Providers will be able to offer broadband deals to every household, business, school and library in Northern Ireland regardless of their location.

The availability of broadband in Rathfriland had played an integral part in the expansion of their business. It would have been impossible to have achieved the export growth without broadband internet access which came to Rathfriland in 2004. The significance of broadband could not be understated. Now that 100% availability has been achieved the next big challenge is to utilise broadband and the benefits it brings.

Northern Ireland has led the race for broadband availability - now it must set the pace for take-up and usage. Complaints have been made from some people in rural areas of Northern Ireland who say they cannot get broadband services down their telephone line and that they have to pay more for broadband via a satellite link. Work is continuing to improve the technology and service levels.

There are quite a few people who have access to broadband in lots of different ways. The majority of people are connected on their telephone line, ADSL on their telephone line. There is a small number of people that are connected by different means, everything from radio to satellite communication.