LGfL-The National Grid for Learning brings Community Fibre onboard to provide schools with faster, more reliable fibre broadband support

Tuesday, 20th February 2024, London: Community Fibre, London’s best quality broadband, has partnered with LGfL-The National Grid for Learning to provide back-up connectivity to schools across the capital.

The five-year agreement will see Community Fibre, which boasts some of the fastest business broadband speeds available in the UK, supply schools with the city’s most reliable₁ fibre broadband technology. The award-winning₂ Internet Service Provider (ISP) in partnership with LGfL-The National Grid for Learning has already begun its roll out and will aim to provide back-up internet service to 500 sites this year. Each school will be serviced with a 100% full fibre installation, which uses 70% less energy than traditional copper, making it a future-proof, energy efficient and sustainable solution.

The move from LGfL-The National Grid for Learning to bolster network support for schools in London follows guidance from the Department of Education. Commenting on the agreement, John Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of LGfL- The National Grid for Learning, said: “LGfL’s investment in Community Fibre is part of a wider strategy to deliver world class digital infrastructure to children in London that is fast, secure and highly resilient. There are very few cities in the world that are delivering diversely routed, high speed fibre into schools to minimise disruption and maximise the potential of internet-based learning.”

As part of the agreement, LGfL-The National Grid for Learning and Community Fibre will also explore new initiatives as part of the broadband provider’s community investment programme, which has connected more than 580 community spaces to date with a free 1 Gbps full fibre connection, provides free digital skills training for Londoners and supports community-led initiatives through sponsorship.

Graeme Oxby, Chief Executive Officer of Community Fibre, added: “We’re delighted that the LGfL-The National Grid for Learning has appointed Community Fibre to provide London schools with fibre support. Stable and reliable connectivity is vital for teachers and school children across the capital, and we’re thrilled to roll out our 100% full fibre network to each location using the UK’s most reliable broadband technology.”

Commenting on the announcement, Theo Blackwell, London's first Chief Digital Officer - who leads on London-wide digital transformation, data and smart city initiatives at City Hall – said: "This initiative will provide hundreds of London schools with full fibre connections, supporting teaching and learning. It goes hand in hand with our efforts to promote investment in gigabit connectivity to homes, businesses and public buildings - up from only four per cent in 2017 to 89 per cent today. Better digital access is a priority for the Mayor and an important part of making a better London for everyone." 

With award-winning broadband ranging from 150 Mbps to 10 Gbps, Community Fibre offers the widest choice of multi-gigabit business broadband packages which can be found online here. Trusted by nationally renowned brands to independent coffee shops, its services are available at a fraction of the cost on its 100% full fibre network that is up and running over 99.9% of the time with no peak-time slowdowns. For all enquiries, its business team can be reached via email at [email protected]. 

End

Contact

For more information, please contact [email protected] for all media enquiries.

Notes to editors

₁ Source: Community Fibre's network has been running for over 99.9% of the time every month since March 2022. Data is measured monthly across all consumer connected homes on Community Fibre's network.

₂ Source: In November 2023, Community Fibre was recognised at the Internet Service Provider Association (ISPA) Awards as the UK’s Best Business ISP for the second year in a row.

About Community Fibre

Community Fibre is London’s best quality broadband, providing fast, affordable, sustainable connections for everyone. As of November 2023, it has passed 1.3 million homes across and around the capital, with more than 200,000 London-based businesses within 200 metres of Community Fibre’s network footprint. Using the UK’s best broadband technology, it is bringing Gigafast broadband at unbeatable speeds and prices to the capital, helping Londoners do more and be more. Community Fibre also operates the Box brand in Surrey and Sussex.

As the Best Internet Provider network on Trustpilot, commanding an ‘Excellent’ rated service with over 34,000 5-star reviews (January 2024), Community Fibre offers speeds of up to 3 Gbps for consumers – up to 43x faster than the UK average download speed and 163x faster than the UK average upload speed - as well as broadband packages of up to 10 Gbps for businesses.

In August 2023, Community Fibre was named by Broadband Savvy as the UK’s #1 leading broadband provider. Community Fibre was awarded 2024’s Best Alternative Network by Uswitch for the second consecutive year in a row. In November 2023, Community Fibre was recognised at the Internet Service Provider Association (ISPA) Awards as the UK’s Best Consumer ISP in its category for the fourth consecutive year and Best Business ISP for the second year in a row.

About LGfL–The National Grid for Learning:

LGfL–The National Grid for Learning - Triple ERA and double Bett Award winner in 2022 and winner of the Safety and Security Award at the Education Today School & Supplier Awards - is a charitable trust that is passionate about saving schools money, keeping children safe, tackling inequality, energising teaching and learning and promoting wellbeing.

Its mission is the advancement of education. It does not profit from schools and reinvests any profits it makes back into education.