Today a Telehouse; tomorrow a data centre: Durkan

LONDONDERRY MP Mark Durkan says that whilst securing the Project Kelvin Telehouse was like throwing a six on a board game, we now have to get the rest of the throws right – including additional investment for a data centre which will attract the sort of companies and hi-end jobs the city needs.

Mr Durkan said: "We have to recognise that it is not just the telehouse which is nearing completion but the whole Project Kelvin.

"This will give us the fastest high-speed link to North America in terms of data and information communication."

He said the city needs to ensure Londonderry benefits from the multi-million pound transatlantic connectivity project.

Although twelve other towns are also connected Mr Durkan claims Londonderry has the best advantage by virtue of having the Telehouse here and in terms of having the fastest link-up.

But he stressed we now need a datacentre to fully capitalise on the Telehouse.

"To convert that we need a data centre to make sure we can attract the sort of companies and jobs that work on the back of close proximity to a telehouse," he said.

"We have to engage in a full marketing effort to make sure that we secure that additional investment.

"Winning back the telehouse was like throwing a six on a board game. What we have to do now is to get the rest of the throws right.

"Local businesses are already thinking hard about how they can develop their own business using this link and how they can sell and market themselves on the back of it.

"But we also have to think about how we can win the sort of further investment that flows from a data centre and helps other businesses as well," said Mr Durkan.

The local SDLP MP said other towns and cities will offer stiff competition in terms of attracting investors but Londonderry has a great chance to grab this chance with both hands.

"This is a great opportunity in terms of existing local companies and also companies that can grow here – such as in the area of the creative industries which is one of the areas that the university at Magee is concentrating on with the performing arts," he said.

"There are potential spin-offs, so we need to think about what we can cultivate here and how we can make ourselves a hub for a number of industries.

"One of the biggest things we have to do is to net the investment in a data centre. That effort is certainly underway with a number of local businesses doing their bit.

"However, we must also make sure that Invest NI and key government agencies which are meant to help on this are doing their bit and not standing back and saying 'We can't just sell Derry ahead of anywhere else.'

"We all know the effort that went into securing the telehouse and the difficulties that were there when things seemed to be going in the wrong direction.

"Derry has a particular advantage which I and others so painstakingly fought to secure. Therefore, government agencies should be supporting us in maximising that," said Mr Durkan.

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