A new partnership between Hillingdon Council and broadband provider Community Fibre will bring better connections for everyone across the borough.
Up to ten local community buildings in Hillingdon are set to benefit from free high-speed fibre broadband connections as a result of the council’s agreement with the community-focused broadband provider. The building locations will be announced at a later date.
Through this new partnership, Community Fibre will bring its 100 per cent full fibre broadband network to more than 10,000 homes and businesses offering reliable, high speed internet connectivity up to 3Gbps for consumers and up to 10Gbps for businesses.
Bringing Community Fibre’s high-speed connections to the community will enable local residents to enjoy fast, reliable internet and access essential services and will be focused across the borough’s communities to minimise digital exclusion.
The council and Community Fibre will also work together to actively recruit and train keen local residents to be part of Community Fibre’s Digital Ambassador Programme.
Through the programme residents will receive training to become qualified ‘Digital Ambassadors’, local specialists who’ll provide help to anyone in their community, enabling them to be competent online and more digitally empowered. The ambassadors in turn can develop their own personal skills while helping guide and educate others.
The scheme aims to address digital exclusion by teaching everything from the basics of email and social media to building your own website.
Cllr Douglas Mills, Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Transformation, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Community Fibre to further enhance our status as one of the best-connected boroughs.
“A key aim of our digital strategy is to support local communities to ensure people are not digitally excluded. By connecting community buildings we’re bringing high-speed broadband to the hearts of areas that need it most.
“Together with their Digital Ambassadors programme, this new partnership will be a catalyst in generating communities which are healthier by being better connected.”
Graeme Oxby, CEO of Community Fibre said: “It’s important to us that residents and local businesses in the community have access to top quality broadband to stay connected and access all the critical services online.
“We endeavour to continue to close the digital divides between the hundreds of communities across London boroughs through our full-fibre rollout and facilitation of a better internet for everyone.”
