Superfast wireless broadband goes live in Southwark

19 February 2018

Residents in Rotherhithe have been among the first to get access to faster broadband connections as new wireless aerials go live in the borough.

London is seen as a digital city, but has a number of ‘not spots’ where broadband speeds are very slow.

Rotherhithe, in particular, is one of the worst affected parts of London when it comes to the issue of poor digital connectivity, meaning people living in the area are unable to access anything but the most basic broadband speeds.

Poor broadband also affects businesses in Rotherhithe, with many reporting that slow speeds and unreliable network connections negatively affect productivity and limit their opportunities for growth.

Southwark Council is committed to being a digitally inclusive borough and the council has been working hard to tackle poor broadband speeds, setting out plans in its digital strategy to improve connectivity and broadband performance for residents and businesses alike.

As part of these plans, the council has signed a number of lease agreements with broadband provider Relish, enabling them to install wireless aerials on residential council buildings, which will deliver up to 40Mb broadband speeds across 70 per cent of the borough.

Cllr Fiona Colley, Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, said: “We are delighted that more people can now access superfast broadband, particularly in Rotherhithe where the issue has been so acute.

“The rollout of wireless aerials is just one step in the council’s commitment to improve connectivity for residents and make Southwark a truly digital borough.

“Our ultimate long-term goal is a full rollout of fibre optic broadband across the borough and we have already made a start by submitting a joint bid with TfL, the GLA and several other local authorities for funding from central government, as part of a national £200m challenge fund for broadband projects.

“If successful, the funding will be used in Southwark to improve digital connectivity in areas of the borough with poor broadband speeds, particularly in the Rotherhithe peninsula.”

In total, 23 new aerials and masts have been approved for installation across the borough, including four in Rotherhithe, with half already delivering Relish’s wireless broadband service.

Anyone can check if their home can be connected to Relish by using their online postcode checker at http://www.relish.net 

Page last updated: 19 February 2018