Fine Gael TD for Cork East Constituency, David Stanton, has called for broadband outages to be restored with the same urgency as electricity outages and for broadband providers to provide readily available and accessible performance updates to service users.
David Stanton said: “When electricity supplies are disrupted ESB Networks move very quickly to work to restore service and to ensure that any fallen lines are made safe. ESB Networks also have an interactive, online fault reporting facility where real time fault information is available on an interactive map which gives information such as when the fault started, the estimated service restoration time and the number of customers affected. There is also a facility where customers can request a text or email updating them on the status of the service interruption.
“Broadband has become an essential service for families and businesses all over the country and I believe that all broadband service providers should consider putting in place an interactive online facility similar to that used by ESB Networks.
“Customers should be able to report faults online, receive updates on the fault and the expected time of service restoration. It is also vital, in my view, that broadband outages are treated seriously and with urgency so that this essential service will be restored as quickly as possible following any break in service”, concluded David Stanton.