To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) how many premises in East Antrim are expected to benefit from Project Stratum; and (ii) whether she will consider ways to speed up progress on the project.

(i) There are 1,956 premises in the East Antrim constituency within the Project Stratum target intervention area. It is important to note, however, that the number and location of premises that will benefit from this intervention will not be known until the procurement is complete and a contract has been awarded. My Department’s objective is to maximise the number of premises to benefit from available public funding of £165m, in addition to vital industry contribution.

(ii) The closing date for receipt of tenders for Project Stratum has now passed. The evaluation of bids is underway and contract award is expected in late September 2020. My Department’s engagement with industry indicates that a 6-9 month period is required for network design and delivery preparation prior to deployment. It is anticipated, therefore, that deployment of infrastructure will commence a number of months after contract award, with completion by 31 March 2024.

In the current environment, the importance of telecommunications services has become prominent. Project Stratum has been developed under very robust corporate governance arrangements, to ensure efficient delivery. These will provide the necessary safeguards for the public investment. It is not possible to fast track the procurement or the required governance procedures, notwithstanding my Department’s continued efforts to ensure that the project fully aligns with the envisaged timeline so that as many premises as possible can benefit.