- 1st August 2025
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Today [01 Aug 2025] we wrote to the Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms with our local authority colleagues at London Councils, Central London Forward, South London Partnership and West London Alliance, asking for support to tackle digital inequalities and gaps in digital infrastructure investment across the capital.
There has been significant public sector support to stimulate digital investment in other parts of the UK and leaders are coming together to call for high-speed connectivity across all of London; this is fundamental to achieving our growth potential, world-leading digital ambitions and ensuring no communities are be left behind.
Cllr Anthony Okereke, Chair of Local London and Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:
“We are writing to the Government with our colleagues from across London calling for support to tackle gaps in digital infrastructure provision across the inner and outer boroughs of our great city.
Counter to perceptions, not all London benefits from gigabit capable broadband connectivity. In our East London boroughs, we are working hard to bring in investment to tackle connectivity issues affecting 90,000 businesses and homes. Connectivity goes beyond political boundaries, we are standing with our London colleagues to urge Government to ensure all London has the digital infrastructure to contribute to its fullest potential for the benefit of people locally, regionally and across the UK.”
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Chair of Local London’s Growth Board that leads on digital, and Mayor of Newham, said:
“Across the capital, gaps in services are creating digital inequalities and curtailing opportunities for people and businesses, this impacts on local and national growth. In our fast-growing East London sub-region alone, there are tens of thousands of premises unable to access a gigabit broadband service. We also require world class mobile services and the ability to deliver fibre and business services to data centre locations, business clusters, business parks and growth zones.
We are committed to working with the public and private sectors to bring high-speed broadband connectivity to our boroughs, London, and beyond. This is fundamental for digital inclusion and ambitions to lead the UK’s AI and digital future.”
Read our letter to Minister Sir Chris Bryant MP re London's digital connectivity challenges.
Find out more about digital infrastructure
Local London and South London Partnership have jointly produced a Digital Strategy, along with a toolkit to help local authority officers secure digital infrastructure investment. Discover more: londondigitaltoolkit.org.uk
Delivering Economic Growth in Local London: Digital Connectivity Requirements
The availability of world class digital infrastructure across Local London is key to delivering economic prosperity and efficient public services. Most notably the growth objectives of the nation will only be achieved if the underlying infrastructure is available. Local London is one of the fastest growing regions in the UK and an engine of growth for the UK economy. This paper sets out the challenges and digital infrastructure investment opportunity.