By Paul Donovan
Nearly 90 per cent of broadband users in Northern Ireland will have access to a high-speed network next year, BT has said.
Users will be able to download data in a fraction of the time with speeds of up to 40mg available.
The company said that this could mean a whole music album could be accessed in 30 seconds.
There could be as many as 60 jobs created within BT through the new investment which will see more than 2,400 fibre broadband cabinets carry the service across the region.
Once the work is completed, Northern Ireland will be one of the best-connected places in the world, the firm pledged.
Graham Sutherland, chief executive of BT in Northern Ireland, said: "This is a great moment in Northern Ireland's broadband story.
"High-speed fibre broadband is transformational, it changes how we live, how we educate, how our businesses send their products and ideas around the world."
Around 88% of lines to homes and businesses will be linked to the fibre broadband cabinets.
The fibre network will be available to any internet provider and 13 are already planning to use it.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "Substantial investment in bringing lightning-fast broadband to businesses, schools, colleges and individuals delivers significant economic and social benefits for the whole of Northern Ireland."
BT is investing close to £30 million in the project, with a further £16.5 million from the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
