Northern Ireland has faced the same economic challenges as many other regions over the last two years - the impact of the pandemic, high inflation and rising energy prices have led to cost of living pressures and uncertainty for many households and businesses.

Like every business, BT Group has been hit by the same challenges, but has maintained its major investment in full fibre broadband and mobile connectivity across Northern Ireland, and other parts of the UK, writes Nick Speed, Head of Nations & Regions, Policy and Public Affairs, BT Group

Impartial Reporter:

We believe this once-in-a-generation investment in digital infrastructure will give the country the future-proofed connectivity it will need to stay ahead and grow in the decades to come.

We know that the big innovations and growth sectors of the future – like self-driving cars and 5G-enabled robotic factories – are going to depend on reliable, high speed connectivity.

BT Group, via its digital network business Openreach, has already reached more than 750,000 properties across Northern Ireland with full fibre broadband, and our 5G mobile network now reaches nearly 70% of the UK population.

According to independent research published recently, BT Group employed more than 3,000 people across Northern Ireland in the last financial year (2021/22) and spent around £140m with suppliers based in NI. The knock-on impact of the spend of BT Group employees, and payment to suppliers in the region, results in an estimated boost of £690 million to the wider economy of Northern Ireland.

BT Group is also transforming and modernising the way it works, including developing new and refurbished offices and workspaces.

BT Group recently reopened its Riverside Tower building at Lanyon Place, in the heart of the city, following a multi-million pound refurbishment.

As a key location in the company’s future plans, the significant refurbishment has created a fantastic, modern workplace, which will now be home to around 2,000 colleagues from BT Group, which includes EE, BT Business and Openreach.

New offices like this are about bringing colleagues together in brilliant spaces that will enable collaboration, help us attract and retain the best people and help us to better serve our customers.

Belfast saw the recent launch of the Cyber Security Operations Centre at Belfast’s Riverside Tower. This launch adds to BT Group’s international network of SOC’s across the globe.

As well as helping customers globally, the SOC also offers this expertise to both public and private sector companies in Northern Ireland.

As a major employer in the city, our presence will support local economic growth and employment opportunities.

Despite the challenges, BT Group is in a unique position, as the UK's lead investor in connectivity, to help drive economic growth and power the Northern Ireland economy of the future.