To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to AQW 23180/17-22, (i) why no properties in East Londonderry were able to access a Fibrus internet connection up to September 2021; and (ii) to detail the current availability in that constituency.

In order for citizens to access the Project Stratum network, the necessary infrastructure will need to be in place, and details released to Fibrus ISP (the consumer engagement arm of the business). Fibrus Networks’ engineering model seeks to deploy infrastructure quickly and efficiently from both a technical and cost perspective, enabling as many premises as possible to see improvement through this intervention. Some areas will see improvement before others; that is always going to be the case with such deployments.

As outlined in AQW 23180/17-22, South Down Constituency currently has the highest number of premises passed, while East Londonderry Constituency has no premises passed. This is due to deployment of infrastructure commencing in South Down Constituency in Spring 2021, while deployment in East Londonderry Constituency commenced in Autumn 2021. My Department anticipates premises within the East Londonderry Constituency being passed in the coming weeks, and citizens being in a position to place an order.

The Hyperfast NI website at www.hyperfastni.com will confirm when work has been completed and a service can be ordered, for citizens who wish to do so. Currently, Fibrus ISP is the only provider offering services on the Project Stratum network. However, we expect other providers to offer services as the project continues.

(ii)There are 2,883 premises within the East Londonderry Constituency included in the Project Stratum intervention area. As mentioned above, current deployment plans show that the first premises were scheduled for improvement in Autumn 2021, with deployment continuing until Spring 2023.

The table below provides a full breakdown of the deployment schedule within the East Londonderry Constituency.

In addition to the 2,883 premises included in the Project Stratum intervention area, there are a further 185 eligible premises within the East Londonderry Constituency that are currently out of scope due to the exhaustion of funding. My Department has been endeavouring to secure funding to address such premises. The recent announcement by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, confirming extra funding for Project Stratum, is the result of an extended process of engagement. The additional funding will contribute towards addressing premises that are currently beyond the scope of Project Stratum, as well as premises that were omitted from the target intervention area due to issues with the Land & Property Services Pointer dataset, but have since been identified as being eligible.

My Department remains on track to complete the governance and approvals processes required in advance of making an announcement and sharing the breakdown and location of premises to be brought into scope as part of this exercise, along with Fibrus Networks’ confirmed deployment rollout schedule.

My Department remains hopeful that the process will be concluded in the next several weeks and the granular detail can then be provided. It remains the overarching aspiration of my Department to maximise broadband coverage to benefit as many eligible premises as possible under Project Stratum from this public intervention under the State aid rules that govern the project.