US TELECOMS infrastructure company Shared Access has formally kicked off a €30 million investment programme with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) that will see floodlights installed in up 500 soccer clubs around the State.

In return, Shared Access will erect wireless antennas that will enhance broadband penetration and mobile phone coverage.

Details of the scheme were first revealed by The Irish Timesin July.

The company will share any revenues generated by the antennas with the clubs involved.

Shared Access will pay for and erect the floodlights for local soccer clubs.

The sites will be available to all telecoms operators in Ireland for their mobile and broadband services.

To date, 400 clubs have applied for inclusion in the scheme. This is expected to top 500 by the end of 2010.

This will allow clubs to train under lights outdoors during the winter.

The novel scheme was launched yesterday at the Aviva Stadium by Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan, FAI chief executive John Delaney and Shared Access chief executive Chris Jackman.

“Competition for public funding means that innovative private investments such as this one by Shared Access are even more significant and beneficial,” Mr Ryan said.

Shared Access operates in the US and Europe and is backed by Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan.