AQW 30903/17-22

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Foyle

Tabled Date: 11/03/2022
Answered On Date: 16/03/2022
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) when Drumcraig Road, Magheramason, Derry will be scheduled for high speed broadband connection under Project Stratum; (ii) the rationale for this decision.

Answer:

(i) As you are aware, Project Stratum is a broadband intervention scheme to improve connectivity for premises unable to access broadband services of 30 Mbps or greater, primarily across rural areas of Northern Ireland.

The intervention area for Project Stratum was determined following an Open Market Review (OMR) and State aid public consultation. The information gathered indicated that a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) could provide all of the premises on Drumcraig Road with a broadband service of 30Mbps or greater, or that they will be able to avail of such a service by January 2022. These premises are therefore not included in Project Stratum.

(ii) The rationale for this decision is outlined in State aid rules, where premises with access to a broadband service of 30Mbps or greater by January 2022, are not eligible to benefit from Project Stratum. My Department is responsible for determining the arrangements for developing and managing Project Stratum, and Building Digital UK (BDUK), a division within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), is responsible for ensuring compliance with State aid regulations. My Department is required to follow State aid regulations, without exception, and manage the process set out in the National Broadband Scheme 2016, which requires the Department to keep premises identified in WISPs’ coverage plans under review.