London,
28
February
2017
|
14:58
Europe/London

Over 7,500 Londoners to get state-of-the-art broadband

Over 7,500 residents of the 12 central London housing estates run by the City of London Corporation will benefit from a new high speed internet service after plans to expand fibre optic broadband were given the green light.

The decision was made by the City Corporation’s Community & Children’s Services Committee, which manages the estates, last Friday [17 February].

New state of the art equipment will be installed which will provide speeds of up to one gigabit at affordable prices, and see users able to enjoy high bandwidth services like video on demand.

The capital currently suffers from poor broadband speeds, with four of the 12 areas with the worst superfast broadband being found in London, which ranks 26th out of 33 European capitals.

The new broadband services will be rolled out across the City Corporation’s social housing estates, which stretch across seven London boroughs including the City of London, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.

Neal Hounsell, Acting Director of the City of London Corporation’s Community & Children’s Services department, said:

We are responding to the need to provide faster internet access to Londoners at an affordable price.

“This project will mean that our housing developments in central London are better connected with faster broadband speeds.”

Up to five internet providers per estate will be invited to bid for the opportunity to connect and will be selected based on affordability and quality of service. The City Corporation has asked potential providers to include reduced payment options for residents on low incomes and benefits.

The City of London Corporation provides housing for Londoners in 3,000 residential properties across seven of the capital’s boroughs and it is building another 3,700 homes across London by 2025.

-ends-

City of London housing estates to be included in the Superfast City programme include:

  • Avondale Square Estate

  • Golden Lane Estate

  • Holloway Estate

  • Horace Jones Hones

  • Isleden House

  • Southwark Estates

  • Sydenham Hill Estates

  • Dron House

  • Middlesex St Estate

  • William Blake Estate

  • Windsor House Estate

  • York Way Estate

     

The City of London Corporation provides council housing across seven London boroughs (City of London, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets).