Tenants across 25 social housing developments in Newcastle are to get broadband which is 30 times faster than the average.

The service will cover almost 5000 properties with the roll out of full fibre gigabit broadband. The Council has partnered with Hyperoptic which provides speeds of 1,000Mbps. Work is underway and full fibre broadband is already available in 1,180 council homes.

Hyperoptic is the UK’s largest residential gigabit broadband provider and broadband is already live in several private sector developments across Newcastle. It is committed to extend its footprint across the length and breadth of the city.

Councillor Jane Streather, Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Health, said: “In the world we live in today good quality, high speed broadband can be the key to success when it comes to education, employment and social inclusion. As more and more services go online we recognise that providing ultrafast, reliable and affordable broadband is an essential part of our drive to increase digital inclusion.

“By working in partnership with Hyperoptic, whose gold standard services have been tried and tested by other councils, we know our tenants will receive the best Internet experience possible in the UK today.”

Tim Huxtable, Regional Director, Hyperoptic said: “Public services are becoming digital by choice. We are equipping and enabling social housing tenants to access these services in the best way possible – with an Internet connection that helps rather than hinders, and will stand the test of time as technology advances. Social housing is a strategic priority for us – the public sector has a huge role to play in fulfilling the vision of a full fibre UK and bridging the digital divide.”

Over the last year Hyperoptic has also started to work in partnership with councils and housing associations to enable digital inclusion by providing full fibre broadband to tenants at little to no cost to the council. Hyperoptic is already working with a number of housing associations including Hyde Housing, and directly with Salford, Nottingham and Thurrock Councils.