WiFi goes out to Islington estates

Islington council wants to close the digital divide

Islington Borough Council is extending its wireless network to provide free high-speed internet access to 10,000 inner London local authority houses.

The scheme is an extension of the area’s WiFi Technology Mile, which was created in 2006 and is available for 4km along two main shopping streets.

By extending the service to local estates, the council aims to promote social inclusion by encouraging residents to boost their skills and broaden their prospects, said John Lowin, head of Islington’s technology solutions group.

“We are closing the digital divide by saying: ‘Why not put it on an estate?’” he said.

“And we have discovered that having put it on the estates, it is widely used.”

Since December, the network has been serving Islington’s Canonbury housing ward, reaching 20 blocks comprising 10,000 homes.

And every week a learning bus equipped with 15 PCs and a trainer visits the estate, offering residents one-to-one help with writing CVs and job searching.

According to Islington, the Technology Mile is already the UK’s most widely-used wireless network. Publicly available, it also supports the council’s own mobile applications, including email and estate management.

Broadening its availability delivers tangible benefits to local residents, said Terry Stacey, deputy council leader and executive member for housing and communities.

“We can build closer relationships with the people who live and work in Islington,” he said.

“The service is providing an important resource for people looking for information on training, employment, benefits, healthcare, community events and many other subjects.”