BT and DETI defend Northern Ireland broadband

Broadband service and quality in Northern Ireland have been defended by BT and the country's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI).

The issue has been examined by BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, which has been contacted by many local residents unhappy with the home broadband speeds they receive.

However, Frank McManus of BT defended Northern Ireland's broadband infrastructure, insisting "massive strides" have been made in recent years, with the telecoms giant itself investing tens of millions of pounds.

Mr McManus, the company's head of broadband services in Northern Ireland, admitted it would be ideal if all those currently stuck with slow broadband lived in one small area, so their needs could be addressed simultaneously.

Unfortunately, he said this is not the case, explaining: "They tend to be the long distances, the pockets right across Northern Ireland. We're looking to see if there is some way we can address it."

The DETI, meanwhile, noted that £45 million has been spent on upgrades and extensions to Northern Ireland's broadband networks over the past four years.

This investment has helped deliver "the most extensive rollout of fibre anywhere in the UK and, indeed, Europe", the department insisted.