Fast free broadband will be offered to thousands of families struggling with internet connections while people are forced into home learning and working from home amid a third national lockdown. 

A partnership between internet provider Hyperoptic and 37 local authorities in the UK is the latest to be announced. It will offer families in need the chances to have a high speed connection installed, with no usage charges until the end of the summer term.

Offering full fibre optic broadband access

Ofcom estimated that more than 880,000 children in the UK live in a household with only a mobile internet connection.

Hyperoptic currently provides broadband access in parts of 43 UK towns and cities, covering well over 400,000 premises.

The company aims to connect at least 2,500 families with the free offer in the next month alone.

Users who benefit from the offer can expect the Hyperoptic full fiber 50Mbps service that doesn't fluctuate depending on what time of day it is or how many devices in the house are connected. It also comes with unlimited data.

The UK’s largest telecom companies have answered calls over the lockdown period to support students struggling with home learning internet issues. Vodafone, EE, O2, BT, Virgin Media and Sky have all launched free data and internet packages to help children access online learning tools.

Who is eligible?

The offer is available to those living in homes within areas already served by Hyperoptic. They must have a minimum of one school aged child, under 18, living in the property.

Users must currently have either no fixed broadband in the home or have an existing package that isn’t reliable.

How to get connected

Those wishing to take advantage of the offer must contact their local authority.

You can then call Hyperoptic on 0333 332 1111, quoting the promo code received and your address. Hyperoptic will then book your free installation on a date that suits. The engineer will install your internet connection and set up a wifi router.

List of local authorities who have been offered to participate

  • A2Dominion
  • Brent Council
  • Catalyst Housing Group
  • City of London
  • City West
  • Clarion Housing Group
  • Enfield Council
  • Govan Housing Association
  • Hammersmith & Fulham Council
  • Hyde Group
  • Islington Housing Association
  • Leeds Council
  • London & Quadrant
  • Maryhill Housing Association
  • Metropolitan Housing
  • Milnbank Housing Association
  • Network Homes
  • New Gorbals Housing Association
  • Newcastle Council
  • Newlon Housing Trust
  • Notting Hill Genesis
  • One Housing
  • One Manchester Housing
  • One Vision Housing
  • Optivo Housing
  • Peabody
  • Poplar HARCA
  • Queen's Cross Housing Association
  • Richmond Housing Partnership Limited
  • Salix Homes
  • Southampton Council
  • Southwark Housing
  • Swan Housing/Nu Living
  • Thurrock Council
  • Tower Hamlets Council
  • Trafford Housing
  • Westminster Council