Housing association Network Homes has enlisted full-fibre broadband network builder and internet service provider (ISP) Hyperoptic to hook up 20,000 homes across the south east of England to its network, expanding access to ultrafast broadband services among its residents, many of whom are on low-incomes or otherwise digitally excluded.
Wembley-based Network Homes has more than 40 years of experience in housing, and works in 36 local authority areas in the south east. It is the largest housing association in the London borough of Brent, and also has substantial portfolios in Barnet, Hackney, Harrow and Lambeth.
“We chose to work with Hyperoptic based on the high-quality service they have offered to us and our tenants,” said Network Homes head of strategic asset management and planned works, Suraj Shah.
“We already had a small number of properties connected to their network, but based on our experience of working with them and great feedback from our tenants, this new deal expands this to our entire housing portfolio.”
Besides its wider commercial roll-out, which targets multiple-occupancy new-build properties, Hyperoptic’s specialisation in apartment buildings has seen it become a de facto broadband provider of choice for many social housing organisations and local authorities. Since its inception in 2011, it has made improving access to digital infrastructure and skills through ultrafast broadband a key plank of its strategy.
Approximately 11 million adults in the UK are excluded from fully participating in the digital society at a cost of £63bn in potential gross domestic product (GDP). Aaccording to NHS Digital statistics, 37% of the digitally excluded are social housing tenants.
“Connecting tenants to the UK’s fastest broadband at affordable price points is just one part of us helping to fix this situation – we also offer digital skills training and flexible products, such as rolling contracts and a low-price broadband-only service,” said Hyperoptic’s managing director of commercial, Floyd Widener.
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