By Hibernia Atlantic Press Release
SUMMIT, NJ & DUBLIN, IRELAND- Hibernia Atlantic, the only diverse transAtlantic submarine transport cable provider, is proud to announce the completion of phase one of the Project Kelvin cable deployment, directly connecting Northern Ireland to North America.
As part of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment (DETI) for Northern Ireland and the Irish Department of Communications and Natural Resources (DCENR) the Project Kelvin initiative and Hibernia Atlantic have brought its industry leading, fibre optic submarine cable ashore at Portrush, Northern Ireland this week. This cable will connect with Hibernia Atlantic's terrestrial fibre optic ring currently being deployed to 13 towns and cities, including Armagh, Ballymena, Belfast, Coleraine, Londonderry, Omagh, Portadown, Strabane, Letterkenny, Castleblayney, Dundalk, Drogheda and Monaghan.
By autumn, and well in advance of the projected timetable, the cable system will connect to Hibernia Atlantic's existing secure and diverse transAtlantic cable, thereby directly connecting Northern Ireland and the Island of Ireland to North America and Europe.
This Project Kelvin cable build will add additional and much needed capacity to this region to further support both local and global commerce. Local companies are attracted to the high capacity, extremely secure and reliable network. Businesses can now increase their communications and next-generation Internet service offerings (such as streaming video and video conferencing), as well as increase their access to a larger marketplace of available service providers.
The new network is also attractive to global companies, such as leading financial houses, exchange markets, service providers and media companies, who require fast, low latency bandwidth that avoids traditionally congested routes, such as around the New York and London waterways.
Welcoming this weekend's operation to bring the new transAtlantic submarine telecommunications cable ashore, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said “this is a historic milestone for both Northern Ireland and for Project Kelvin. The new cable will connect Northern Ireland, for the first time, directly to North America and greatly improve connectivity with Europe. When combined with the new terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure, currently under construction across Northern Ireland, it will put us at the heart of the global economy.”
The Minister encouraged local companies to take advantage of the new, international cable's benefits and opportunities.
She continued, “Northern Ireland companies will have access to the same international telecommunications services as found in major cities including London, Amsterdam and New York. We are now firmly on the world telecoms' map and I urge Northern Ireland companies to exploit the opportunities this will bring.
“This flagship project is one of a number of actions being taken under the Programme for Government to capitalise on Northern Ireland's world-class telecommunications infrastructure.
“In these difficult economic times, telecommunications has an important role to play both in helping our companies continue to compete, and in providing access to new and emerging markets, in preparation for the upturn in the world economy.”
Eamon Ryan, Ireland's Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources also welcomed the arrival of the cable.
He said “the nature of communications is developing at apace and we must be part of this. Today Ireland links international communications networks. This will facilitate fast, low-cost and state-of-the-art communications which will allow us to connect and compete internationally. It will help to secure our future economic successes, attract inward investment and create new jobs.
“Ireland is now well established on the world telecoms map and is quickly advancing in terms of ICT, digital and data-intensive industries.
“Project Kelvin will allow us to take advantage of our westerly European location, to connect quickly and more easily with our North American and European counterparts. It is good news for local, as well as the wider economy.”
Derek Bullock, Vice President of Network Operations for Hibernia Atlantic stated “the direct, submarine connection between North America and Northern Ireland also guarantees secondary and back-up support, making it a very attractive offering to companies both locally and overseas, who require reliable back-up systems to ensure their critical communications systems are up and running 100% of the time.
“The Project Kelvin initiative will provide further local and global commerce opportunities to Northern Ireland and the Island of Ireland,” continues Fergus Innes, Vice President of Sales in Europe of Hibernia Atlantic. “The cable running ashore at Portrush is an exciting benchmark and a further indicator that the Hibernia team and the government are working diligently to deliver real benefits for local and international companies seeking bandwidth and security.”
For a map of the Project Kelvin cable build, please visit http://www.hiberniaatlantic.com/images/NIrelandMaps5-09_000.jpg.