The European Commission (EC) has given the go-ahead for a joint Anglo-Irish government project to provide up to EUR30 million (USD41 million) of public funding to help deploy an international submarine telecoms connection to the North West of Ireland. Telecompaper reports that the cable link is designed to lower the cost of international backhaul connectivity in the region. Ireland is currently served by direct links on its south and east coasts, but lacks direct connectivity in the north-west. The proposed cable would land on the north coast and terminate in Londonderry/Derry in Northern Ireland, while Letterkenny and Monagahn in the Republic of Ireland would also gain access to the new direct international link, it said. A tender for the supply contract will now be offered, with the winner selected jointly by the two governments involved.

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