Everything Everywhere and Three have invested £25m in Northern Ireland's mobile phone network in an attempt to significantly increase 3G coverage.
Both operators are predicting 3G coverage will be 94% by the end of the year, up from the existing 54% coverage. Representatives from both companies met with NI enterprise minister Arlene Foster yesterday (13 February) to announce the deal.
Foster said: 'This is excellent news for Northern Ireland. My Department has for a number of years recognised the importance of state-of-the-art telecommunications networks to the development of the economy.'
She added: 'We are in detailed discussions with the UK Government to source sizeable funding to deliver a 4G platform to allow us to benefit from the next evolution of mobile services.'