Four London boroughs—Bromley, Lewisham, Merton, and Wandsworth—are set to receive significant broadband upgrades through a collaboration that taps into existing Transport for London (TfL) infrastructure. The project is spearheaded by internet provider ITS, which is utilising Boldyn Networks’ 20-year concession with TfL to roll out high-capacity full fibre networks. This partnership grants ITS access to a range of assets including cables within the London Underground and street-level infrastructure such as those at TfL-managed traffic lights, enabling enhanced broadband connectivity across these areas.

Funded by the Mayor of London’s Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), this digital infrastructure initiative is part of a broader programme aimed at improving connectivity across the capital. The new networks specifically focus on public sector buildings including council offices, libraries, community and youth centres, and sheltered accommodation, thereby supporting essential community services. Moreover, the project will connect important CCTV sites across the boroughs, improving public safety through enhanced image quality and real-time monitoring capabilities.

The upgrade promises significant social and economic benefits. ITS and its partners anticipate that over 9,000 business premises within these boroughs will gain access to gigabit-capable broadband services, thus bolstering local economies and helping to close the digital divide. This echoes the Greater London Authority’s wider Connected London vision, which seeks to deliver long-term growth and ensure Londoners across all communities benefit from improved digital access.

Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, Howard Dawber, highlighted the initiative’s potential: “Access to reliable high-speed broadband is key to improving public services, boosting local economies and creating safer, thriving communities across the capital.” Speaking to the importance of this infrastructure, he emphasised how the project supports a mission to build “a better, fairer London for everyone.”

The use of TfL infrastructure for this purpose traces back to a landmark 20-year concession awarded to Boldyn Networks (formerly BAI Communications) which aimed to provide comprehensive mobile coverage across the entire Tube network, including tunnels. This contract also involved installation of a fibre backbone across London to strengthen connectivity both above and below ground. The current collaboration leverages this extensive network to expand fibre broadband coverage beyond mobile connectivity, thus utilising the same assets to maximise impact.

TfL’s broader efforts include the deployment of ‘small cells’ transmitters to improve mobile coverage and capacity in high-footfall areas, reflecting a city-wide push to boost digital infrastructure as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth. The fibre network rollout, alongside enhanced mobile services, plays a dual role in advancing London’s transformation into a smart city, where digital connectivity underpins everything from everyday communications to public safety and local business competitiveness.

In summary, this fibre network expansion, backed by the Mayor and delivered through the strategic collaboration of ITS, Boldyn Networks, and TfL, represents a significant stride in bridging London’s digital gap. It leverages existing transport infrastructure in a resourceful manner to deliver improved, reliable internet access across public service environments and commercial sectors alike, promising wide-reaching benefits for residents, visitors, and businesses across south London.

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Source: Noah Wire Services