London's recovery starts with you

The priority here should be fibre, 5G is totally unnecessary in urban areas and true fibre speeds are far in excess of 5G.

The mobile companies are pursuing a policy to pack more and more 20m masts on as many street corners as they can get away with, totally ruining the outlook on many streets.

To see a beautiful tree lined avenue despoiled by these hideous masts should be stopped immediately.

They have recently appealed a planning refusal of a mast near me, to the inspectorate where the site is on the grass verge with 9 large cabinets in front of the lounge window of a resident's house.

Totally disgusting behavior by these companies.

The loop hole in the regulations that means that on a highway land site the mobile company pays no rent (while on a rooftop or other location rent has to be paid for the site) should be addressed to give a level playing field and so take away the incentive to ruin the vista at many street locations. 

100% agree on improving coverage of fibre. Our building can only get super slow broadband, which does not even meet the minimum speed promised by the providers. We are also in a wireless coverage dark zone, so we have no other options. Working from home with this internet has been uncomfortable.

Full fibre optic coverage and the ‘way-leave’ issue is the most important one to resolve. Mobile connections are less stable, less secure and many people are concerned about the health effects of these, especially of 5G.

Adverts on how to avoid online scams are really important as well.

I agree that non-digital options need to be available too, for example telephone helplines with real people on the other end!

Those of us living in flats which I understand is around 50% of the population have been severely let down by Open Reach!  Despite having a near monopoly on fibre installation iin the capital it transpires that without any communication to those affected they decided not to include what they refer to MDU's (multiple dwelling units - ie purpose built flats or house conversions) in their fibre rollouts. After hearing of a nearby neighbour getting fibre I raised this issue with Open Reach who took over 3 months and several chasers to finally respond admitting this was a commercial decision. So when they release details of how many exchanges have fibre capability this is not an accurate description of how many of the population have been excluded. This is discrimination and should not have been allowed to happen. 

Many cities I have travelled to have open WiFi Hotspots so everyone can access the Internet if required.

London could offer public co-working hubs similar to libraries, but for people of all ages to access the Internet, use digital devices and access learning digital skills. These hubs could hire trainers or offer assistance with online learning.

If many Office spaces remain unused post pandemic such buildings could be used or at least the inner city needs to rethink how to make inner London attractive and accessible in the future. I can picture co-working and co-learning communities where local authorities, employers and educational institutions work together, and also involving the hospitality sector. 

London needs to move away from the model of jobs in Central london and accommodation outside. The growth of digital technology and resources mean that jobs and accommodation should be spread out across all London boroughs, and therefore saving people from commuting for hours on end. This means that the technology infrastructure needs to be designed with this in mind. Maybe create different zones - eg media zone, gaming zone, fintech zone, and have this spread outside zone 1. 

We need to reverse the closure of libraries across the capital, reopen those that were closed (not necessarily in the same place, but to ensure that the provision is there for everyone in London to access a local library within walking distance of their home) and then ensure that all libraries have a decent stock of books and wifi access. Ideally, each library can also then be a hub for offering education/training opportunities to all Londoners - particularly with regard to retraining people into sustainable green jobs for the future.

Work with Telecom and Internet Service Providers to agree to a common minimum service guarantee. That should include speed, reliability and affordability of high speed internet. Even in emerging markets like India, Nigeria or Brazil, faster internet than UK is more affordable and accessible widely. 

Have a program to encourage all local businesses to get online. Today the biggest hurdle for small local businesses is the lack of skills regarding the digital world. Partner with Tech companies to drive scale on this program.

 Have a structured digitisation effort for all govt departments.

This copy is a result of Positive Ageing in London's conference feedback:

Our aims

To ensure older people do not suffer from being unable to engage online and to improve the rates of older people being connected digitally

The challenges

The pandemic has vividly illustrated the plight of those who are not able to engage online and therefore excluded from vital information, social connections, and ability to do transactions and apply for jobs. There are mixed reasons for the lack of engagement – the lack of resources, fear of technology, and lack of skills

How to get there

Continue to ensure that those who do not have online access received printed information about core information and services

Ensure shops and public services have efficient phone systems to ensure people can ring with queries or to book services

Local authorities to identify those who are digitally excluded which is causing problems and the barriers

Provision of free Wi-Fi to those older people in need

Provision of pay as you go handsets and tablets for those who do not have equipment

Use mutual-aid hubs to act as digital befriending services to help older people get online

A group I belong to 'Sewn Together', started off a face-to-face course in February 2020 before Covid-19. The facilitators swiftly moved the course online at the beginning of lockdown. They have been fantastic. Problems faced for some of the other participants: not having a suitable device a tablet or a laptop, not having training how to use Zoom, Isolation without the means to stay connected not just digitally. Haringey is a large borough we need to connect more facilities and initiatives so that the plan to ensure everyone has a means to be online by 2025. We need to have more training opportunities for those that are not digitally apt, we need more paid opportunities for those that can share their skills to train them, to combat this shortfall, we also need to have more transparency of how to access refurbished devices and greater cost-effective internet availability.

Our work with older Londoners at Positive Ageing in London included a meeting with over 70 older people before the Covid outbreak. At the end of the conference there were focus groups which discussed the issues surrounding digitalisation as it affects older people. These relate to both those older people ( especially poorer and  very old and care home residents) who need support and training in using IT and that there should be a training the  trainers programme for those dealing with older people ( care home workers, housing association and community centre workers)  so that they can offer 'silver surfer style support and training.

In addition there needs to be greater recognition that for many older and poorer people online and digital communications will exclude them and there must be more information offered by phone lines which are actually in operation , plus more written material distributed to older and vulnerable people's homes as well as greater use of community radio and community TV

COVID has vividly illustrated the plight of older people who are not able to engage online and therefore excluded from vital information, social connections, and ability to do transactions and apply for jobs. There are mixed reasons for the lack of engagement – the lack of resources, fear of technology, and lack of skills

Immediate actions required are:

1. Continue to ensure that those who do not have online access received printed information about core information and services

2. Ensure shops and public services have efficient phone systems to ensure people can ring with queries or to book services

3. Local authorities to identify those who are digitally excluded which is causing problems and the barriers

4. Provision of free Wi-Fi to those older people in need and training support 

5. Provision of pay as you go handsets and tablets for those who do not have equipment

6. Use mutual aid hubs to act as digital befriending service to help those older people get online

The lack of devices is a real issue, not just because most services have moved online, but because a mobile device is simply not enough to take full advantage of the Internet. Most young people or the unemployed are just on a mobile phone. It is not just the elderly or disable who need help.

We would like to see an initiative that is considerate with the environment. A provision of training hubs, for people of all ages and abilities where equipment can be refurbished and distribute for free or at a low rate, will be ideal.

There is a large group of older people who, with the best will and effort, will never join the digital age for many reasons. They are therefore excluded from too many aspects of what is becoming day to day life. The pandemic has highlighted this with people unable to order food online, keep up with latest information and guidelines,participate in online medical assistance or even enjoy video calling with friends and family..Of course neighbours  helped but are now back working so can only offer limited assistance.

This government has banned regular local authority newspapers that were a lifeline for older and other vulnerable people and this decision should be overturned.

Having read some of the comments I think we are missing the point: A lot of Londoners live in flats and to install fibre connections a legal document called a "way-leave" needs to be established. For this to happen both the Landlord and OpenReach need to sign and Landlords are not signing... This is a stumbling block which needs to be standardised to be removed, try and speak with OpenReach (if that's possible) and you will see that is where the effort needs to be concentrated if this mission statement is ever going to be achievable...!

The focus needs to be on the people who are not digitally savy. For example the people of the older generations who are not computer literate.

There is also the group who have stayed home to raise children and are not computer savy.

I know many people in their 50's and older who have not embraced smart phones. This needs to be addressed before we can move forward.

These people need to be convinced the technology is safe. i.e. safe from scammers, hacking etc. as they are suspicious of new tech.

Yes, WIFI access is important, but for many people digital access is prevented by a lack of hardware. There are some good examples of small scale community projects that aim to address the shortfall, such as providing refurbished laptops/PCs to households without them, but the numbers are sadly insufficient to meet the need. One solution would be for a larger scale programme of this kind coordinated by the Mayor's office that runs across all boroughs. Or better still, to establish a partnership with hardware manufacturers to provide new, low-cost tablets and laptops to households that can't currently afford them, but need them for school learning, working from home and the myriad of other functions that online access provides in this digital age.