London’s eastern boroughs stand ready to become the UK’s digital powerhouse
Digital connectivity is fundamental to unlocking growth across our sub-region and beyond.
We were delighted to share insights into digital investment needs across our boroughs in the Thames Estuary Growth Board’s recently launched ‘Fair Economic Growth through Digital Connectivity’ paper.
The paper sets out the Growth Board’s plan to establish the Thames Estuary region as the UK’s next AI and digital powerhouse. We back the Board’s call to action for targeted support and bold public-private sector collaboration across east London, north Kent and south Essex to drive forward the UK’s digital future.
Digital connectivity in our London sub-region
While we have secured around £20m investment into our boroughs to improve digital connectivity, our research highlights barriers preventing us from achieving ubiquitous world-class connectivity befitting of expectation of being part of London.
As a result, we need additional funding to:
- Expand dark fibre spines – notably to growth areas but also key areas of regeneration.
- Enhance service provision to public sector sites and assets.
- Anchor inward investment.
- Deliver local business and residential support to drive adoption (awareness, stimulation and possible connection subsidy.)
- Facilitate enhanced mobile coverage and capacity (eg neutral hosts, use of assets.)
⇒Read our Delivering Economic Growth in Local London: Digital Connectivity Requirements paper.
Cllr Anthony Okereke, Chair of Local London and Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said “As the fastest growing part of the capital with a population greater than the cities of Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool combined, we welcome the Thames Estuary Growth Board’s position paper. We are committed to creating inclusive growth for people and businesses in our sub-region; investment in digital infrastructure to tackle over 100,000 premises without gigabit capable broadband connectivity is fundamental to achieving this and supporting local, regional and national economic growth.”
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Local London representative of the Thames Estuary Growth Board and Mayor of Newham London, said “We know that digital inclusion is vital for our people as the impact of technology and the digital age is changing how we live and accessibility will inform life chances. The government has placed a priority on addressing digital access because the digital exclusion numbers are stark, with 1.6 million people in the UK currently not online. Across the Local London area it is even more pronounced, with 100,000 premises not connected or amongst the lowest level of digital capability meaning that the opportunities of life are curtailed.
That’s why we have an ambition through our involvement in the Thames Estuary digital corridor, which will bring high-speed connectivity to east London as this report sets out. It will enable digital inclusion for our people so that they can seize the opportunities of economic growth, over sustaining digital ‘not spots’ which is holding our people back. That’s why fair economic growth through digital connectivity in our boroughs and across the Thames Estuary region is a must.”
Below: map showing slow and no connectivity areas in Local London boroughs and beyond.
The Thames Estuary region, one of two nationally important growth corridors intersecting the Local London sub-region, has the potential to add £190bn to the UK economy by 2050[1].
The Local London economy represents around £55bn[2], with potential to increase with the right investment. Our boroughs are working together through Local London to unlock sustainable inclusive growth across north east and south east London.
- Read the Thames Estuary Growth Board’s ‘Fair Economic Growth through Digital Connectivity’ paper.
- Read our Delivering Economic Growth in Local London: Digital Connectivity Requirements paper.
- Discover more about our strategy for tacking digital infrastructure deficits in Local London.
[2] ONS snapshot data from 2022 (not adjusting for inflation)