The long-term connectivity plan to deliver free digital access to 36,575 homes, aims to address digital exclusion, which can create barriers to knowledge, opportunity, skills and employability.

A full affordable, ultrafast, secure and reliable internet service will provide quality connectivity to all council housing, connecting people and communities.

With more council and partner services being delivered online, the benefits can be life-changing, with increased choice and control over how they interact with services, faster access and improving their customer experience.

Although the plan will take between 10 and 15 years to deliver, it is likely to involve a smart-home model, integrating advanced technology, tailored to the needs of tenants. Improved safety and security, energy efficiency, smarter operations such as CCTV and sprinkler systems and maintenance management are benefits for tenanted homes but the opportunities for education, employability, health and social care and social inclusion are vast.

Housing convener, Councillor Michael McPake, said: “Digital North Lanarkshire is one of the key priorities within Our Programme of Work and our 15-year deal with Commsworld to transform and improve connectivity across the region has delivered a 340km network of gigabit cable ultra-fast full fibre to support our exciting plans.

 “The benefits of providing a full internet service to our council tenants are far reaching. These can range from people being supported to live independently and having greater control over their care, to the use of SMART technology which measures temperature, CO2 levels and humidity, optimising heating and providing alerts to faults. It also helps improve customer service and experience by enabling seamless end-to-end processes to fulfil service requests.

“We’re investing in digital and technological solutions that will benefit people, communities and business across North Lanarkshire.

“By rolling out a full internet service to council tenants, we’re reducing the digital divide and offering increased choice and control over how tenants interact with key services. The effects of this programme will be felt for generations to come, improving access to increase opportunities and reduce inequalities allowing people to reach their full potential and prosper.”

Digital technology will increasingly play a crucial role in levelling the playing field across economic, educational, healthcare and social inequality.