AQW 11631/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 07/12/2020
Answered On Date: 13/01/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) how households and home-workers will be informed of interruptions to their internet supply during local work on the Fibrus broadband scheme; (ii) how much notice they will be given of the interruption; and (iii) whether they will be given an estimate of how long they will be without an internet supply for.

Answer:

There is no expectation of interruptions to consumers existing broadband connections during the build phase of Project Stratum. The Fibrus network is a new broadband installation and will not impact households and homeworkers broadband from their current Internet Service Provider. Any interruption would only take place when a consumer decides to switch supplier. It is recommended that consumers keep their existing broadband connection live until any new connection is installed, tested and signed off, to ensure there is no service interruption.

A Portal has been developed by Fibrus Networks to provide key information throughout the development phase of the project, which is being accelerated across a period of some 40 months. This can be accessed at www.hyperfastni.com and will enable citizens and businesses to confirm if/when their premises are included for upgrade. The website will be updated and expanded in the weeks ahead.