Thousands of poorer households across the borough will be given access to free fibre broadband internet connections.

Hounslow Council has signed an agreement with Community Fibre to install fast internet connections into some of Hounslow's social housing, and work is underway to achieve similar deals - known as Wayleave Agreements - with other providers.

The high-quality fibre infrastructure will begin to roll out in Hounslow in April and as people sign up for paid fibre internet, the deal enables a supply of free internet connections to some of Hounslow's most vulnerable residents.

Landlords are being invited to get the properties they rent out to people to signed up to the initiative.

Community Fibre announced in February that it had enabled 200,000 London homes, doubling the number of London properties with high-quality fibre broadband in just a year and the company aims to connect 1 million London properties with affordable, faster, more reliable broadband by the end of 2023.

Cllr Councillor Pritam Grewal, Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Corporate Performance welcomed the deal. He said: "As we all learn from changes forced on us by the pandemic, and face the challenges of post-COVID recovery, we need to make sure all in the borough, including the most vulnerable, are connected, equipped and skilled to use new technologies.

"This deal not only allows significant improvement in infrastructure by making the latest, gigabit-capable technology available to residents, it helps us meet our objective of tackling digital exclusion too.

"Our commitment to Digital Inclusion has three key elements, connectivity, equipment and skills, so in the same way we stepped in to provide equipment for home schooling where it was needed, and recognising that some need help to be online, we will work with Ealing and Hounslow CVS Digital Champion Network to support the training of digital champions to assist people to get online and use online services."

Landlords who want their properties upgraded can get in touch with Community Fibre via [email protected]

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