AQW 2032/22-27 Written question to the Assembly Commission
To ask the Assembly Commission why the Wi-Fi in Parliament Buildings has limited speed and connectivity.
Asked by Connie Egan MLA on 23 June 2022
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 23 June 2022
- Answer due by
- 8 July 2022
- Answered
- 4 July 202211 days after tabling
- Department
- Northern Ireland Assembly Commission
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Due in part to the greater demand for video conferencing by Members and staff as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Information Systems (IS) Office has identified deficiencies in the current Wi-Fi service, both in terms of signal availability in certain areas of Parliament Buildings and in the reliability of Wi-Fi connections to sustain high bandwidth applications. IS Office accepts that the system cannot cope reliably with these increased demands.
The Assembly Commission has agreed to replace the Wi-Fi network infrastructure, which will include a dedicated internet connection. This project will be completed in the current financial year.
Pending the replacement of the Wi-Fi network, the IS Office has reissued written advice to Members on how best to manage Wi-Fi connections on mobile devices when in Parliament Buildings.
Should Members experience any difficulty with Wi-Fi access or performance in Parliament Buildings they should contact the IS Office Service Desk at the relevant time. The IS Office will continue to monitor the current Wi-Fi service in Parliament Buildings and will respond appropriately to any specific issues as they arise.