Eight tower blocks in Pendleton being refurbished by Pendleton Together are to get gigabit broadband, Salford City Council has announced.
It will be the first council in the UK to rollout the technology for social housing tenants.
Beech Court, Salix Court, Thorn Court, Spruce Court, Holm & Plane Court, Whitebeam, Hornbeam and Malus Court will all get the superfast broadband installed by summer 2016.
Customers will be able to access a 100Mbps free service in communal areas, with paid bundles available at 20Mbps, 100Mbps and 1Gbps.
Hyperoptic’s services start at £24/month.
Volunteer residents are also being provided with iPads to train neighbours on how to use the Internet effectively.
They get to keep their iPad and free broadband if they train over 20 people a year.
In a statment the installers Hyperoptic, a West-London based Internet Service Provider, said: “Residents will be able to choose from a number of affordable broadband and landline packages, including the full gigabit service, or a 100Mbps or 20Mbps service – all of which can be ordered on a contract-free basis, without any need for credit checks.
“A free 100Mbps broadband service will be available in the communal areas.”
Paul Dennett, Labour’s candidate to take over from Ian Stewart in May as the next Salford City Mayor, said: “Digital technology is changing our lives, our economy, our work and society.
“Through our regeneration work in Pendleton we have set in place the technological infrastructure that gives people living there an impressive digital capability and offer.
The Assistant Mayor for Innovation, Growth and Prosperity added: “Council-owned homes aren’t often seen as being ahead of the technological curve, but in Salford we realise technological developments are critical to creating vibrant communities, whilst ensuring the sustainability of regeneration.”
Main image by @PendletonOne/Aerial Video TV
