NORTH Hampshire technology company SatDrive celebrated its first year of providing a broadband satellite service to homes and businesses in rural Britain by moving into the Northern Ireland market.

The broadband company, which is based in the old telephone exchange in Overton, says its offices are typical of many of its customers who have opted to move out of the town and cities to enjoy the benefits of a rural location but with access to high-speed internet connections.

The Overton offices were opened last September by Sir George Young, MP for North West Hampshire, who is a campaigner for wider access to broadband not just for his constituency but for all rural areas of Britain.

In its first year, SatDrive has achieved a turnover of £300,000 and its customers extend from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands - and now throughout Ireland.

As a result, the firm has been chosen to be the first technology partner of The Northern Ireland Science Park.

SatDrive's official launch in Northern Ireland has taken place at the Science Park's Innovation Centre in Belfast, where managing director Eoin Lambkin demonstrated the broadband technology to journalists, rural development officers and potential customers.

Other speakers at the event included Martin McDonald, chief executive of the Rural Development Council for Northern Ireland.

Mr McDonald said: "I welcome the arrival of SatDrive and the fact that rural broadband access is finally moving up the political and business agenda."

Since the science park event, SatDrive has appointed its first Northern Ireland reseller, ri:interative - a Belfast company initially funded by the Prince's Trust to provide computer solutions and consultancy to small businesses and home-workers.

Now SatDrive's sales have started to expand into southern Ireland and plans are being investigated for launching its technology in Europe.

Plans may be forging ahead to develop the service and grow the customer base, but Mr Lambkin has no intention of leaving rural Hampshire.

He said: "Overton is a great place for us, as the motorway and railway links are good and Southampton airport is just down the road.

"It also means the commute to and from work is much more picturesque and stress-free than going into London everyday."