'Silicon Roe Valley'

The new initiative is being considered by the Roe Valley Chamber of Commerce which would allow members to offer WiFi access to visitors and customers in cafe's, bars, visitor attractions, and local tourist accommodation. The project, which launched in other parts of Northern Ireland including Ballycastle and Newcastle, was discussed on Tuesday night by members of the Chamber ahead of the release of it's three year plan. Speaking on the proposed initiative, a Roe Valley Chamber of Trade spokesperson confirmed that the option may be offered to businesses in the coming months.

He said: "Offering WiFi and wireless broadband internet access to people who are visiting or doing business in Roe Valley is an excellent way to entice people into the Borough to visit, shop and do business."

"Most laptops, mobile phones, Blackberrys and iPhones are WiFi enabled, so if a tourist or a business person is trying to decide where they stop for a coffee or for lunch free WiFi could be the thing that makes them stop somewhere in Limavady Borough."

The spokesperson says the project has been a matter of research for members over the last few months including looking at two other towns in the province who implemented the same wireless internet initiative.

The spokesperson added: "We've carried out quite a bit of research into this and we believe that a simple WiFi product that is easy to use and completely free for the customer is the best way forward for the Roe Valley Chamber WiFi initiative."

In 2008 the seaside towns of Ballycastle and Newcastle launched WiFi initiatives which were heavily supported and funded by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment. Even though this was funded this WiFi service wasn't free, and was reported to be extremely complicated to use. But the Chamber say their "straight forward" plan will be more successful if it goes ahead.

The spokesperson added: "We are in a fortunate position to be able to learn lessons from these previous initiatives, and we have developed a much more straight forward, less complicated and much cheaper WiFi product, that will cost 6 per month per WiFi Hotspot."

"We're still negotiating with a number of WiFi providers in order to get the best deal for members, and we're hoping to also offer cheap telephone calls and bundles to businesses that take up the WiFi Hotspot opportunity."

Limavady Deputy Mayor, Ald George Robinson congratulated the Chamber of Trade on the new proposal.

Ald Robinson said: "These are difficult trading times for every business in Limavady due to financial downturn, so any move to help develop business is to be welcomed. The innovative plan to create up to 30 WiFi Hotspots in the area is a very positive step, especially with the tourist market being so vital to our local economy."

""There are so many ways of being in instant touch with the rest of the world and the development of WiFi hotspots can only be a positive step in putting Limavady further on the Places to Visit map in Northern Ireland. "

Alderman Robinson added that he hoped the move may also direct interest from investors in the area.

"I congratulate the Chamber on adopting a modern and pro-active approach to selling themselves and the Borough in general." concluded Ald Robinson

SDLP Councillor Michael Coyle also welcomed news of the WiFi move.

"It's good to hear that businesses in the town are interested in providing new technology, which is something that has been severely lacking in the town."