Northern Ireland today became the first UK region, outside of London, to have every one of its exchanges enabled for broadband. The final nine telephone exchanges have now been enabled with ADSL technology taking broadband availability to 98.5% in the region. This has helped the UK become 'the most extensive broadband market in the G7' according to a report from telecoms analyst Ovum on Monday.

The North East of England is following hot on the heels of Northern Ireland with work at the final 12 exchanges to be completed on February 28. All 182 BT exchanges in North East England will then offer ADSL broadband services.

The UK£10mn broadband partnership between BT and One Northeast, the regional development agency for North East England, will reach completion just 12 months after it was announced, and within a matter of days of the completion of the programme in Northern Ireland. More than 100 small, rural exchanges across the North East - serving on average less than 1400 households and businesses each - will have benefited from the programme.

www.bt.com