To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any process that is in place to support rural properties that were excluded from publicly funded broadband programmes, as a result of a commercial provider indicating that it would provide a connection, but the connection was subsequently not delivered.

I understand the importance of good connectivity, particularly in rural areas. Project Gigabit is targeted at premises where gigabit-capable broadband is not available and there are no credible commercial plans to provide it.

My Department continues to monitor providers’ commercial rollout plans and the delivery of those commitments. My Department will challenge plans which it considers are no longer credible or realistic.

Where commercial plans fall away or do not materialise, affected premises may be considered for future intervention, subject to the availability of public funding, and where it represents value for money. As you can appreciate, this could take some time so property owners may want to consider services such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite and wireless technologies for internet connectivity.