Camden Council Leases 50+ Rooftops to Boost Business Broadband Speeds

Camden Council is launching an initiative to lease rooftop spaces on 50+ council-owned buildings to telecommunications companies to eliminate mobile blackspots and boost business broadband speeds.

Business Connectivity Focus

The leasing approach forms part of efforts to support commercial users by expanding access points for faster services. Council documents indicate the move aims to address gaps in mobile coverage and raise speeds for businesses operating across the borough. This step follows the full fibre rollout that has already lifted average download speeds from approximately 58 Mbps in 2021 to 245 Mbps in 2025.

Broader Rollout Context

Full fibre coverage now reaches 80% of premises in the London Borough of Camden, with 95.33% of premises having access to ultrafast broadband over 100 Mbps as of 2025. These infrastructure gains underpin the council’s decision to pursue additional capacity through commercial partnerships on its own buildings. The leasing programme is presented as a direct response to demand from business users seeking reliable connections beyond residential networks.

Supporting Measures for Access

Alongside the rooftop leases, the council plans to provide free Wi-Fi access in 74 tenants’ halls on council estates, together with digital skills training and refurbished PCs. These elements address digital exclusion while the commercial leasing initiative concentrates on business-grade improvements. Camden recorded a typical 2024 broadband download speed of 72 Mbps, 7% above London’s median at that time, and ranked among the top 10 fastest boroughs in the capital.

The combination of existing fibre expansion and new leasing arrangements is expected to shape how businesses connect in coming periods. Details on specific lease agreements and resulting service offerings will be set out in future council updates.