Council urges residents and businesses to check eligibility for upgraded broadband connection

11th August 2020

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Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is urging residents and businesses to check if they may be eligible for an upgraded broadband connection through the new Universal Service Obligation (USO) for Broadband.
Under the USO for Broadband, residents and businesses have a legal right to request a decent, affordable broadband connection from BT.
BT is in the process of writing to premises that have been identified as receiving a broadband connection of less than 10Mbps download speed and 1Mbps upload speed, about the scheme.
Urging Fermanagh and Omagh residents and businesses to check if they may be eligible for an upgraded broadband connection, Councillor Chris Smyth, Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, said:
“The Council has continued to lobby key stakeholders for investment in broadband so that our residents and businesses can enjoy the benefits of a reliable, good quality service.
Access to reliable good quality broadband is more important than ever as we all adjust to a new normal with technology playing such an important role in how we keep in touch, work, learn, shop, do business and pursue hobbies and social interests.
With 20 per cent of premises in Fermanagh and Omagh unable to get a decent broadband speed, the launch of the Universal Service Obligation for Broadband, to help those who struggle to get online to benefit with an enhanced broadband connection, is welcome.
I would urge anyone who thinks they may be eligible for an upgrade to contact BT directly using the telephone number and website address provided.”
The OFCOM Connected Nations 2018 report showed that 1 in 5 of premises in the Fermanagh and Omagh district are unable to get a broadband speed of 10Mbps per second. This is the worst in Northern Ireland and one of the worst in the United Kingdom.

To check whether your premises may be eligible for an upgraded broadband connection please telephone BT on 0800 783 0223 or visit www.bt.com/uso