Grayshott Gigabit has revealed their plans to launch free community Wi-Fi in the commercial heart of the village, along Headley Road and Crossways Road, in the next few weeks.

The initiative is being supported by Grayshott Parish Council and hopes to enhance the attraction of shopping in, and visiting, the village; making Grayshott the envy of other local communities.

The announcement was made during a visit to the village by Damian Hinds, MP to Grayshott, on January 27.

Grayshott Gigabit, Surrey Hills and East Hampshire’s community internet service provider, hosted the event which provided an opportunity for residents to find out about the government’s flagship £5 billion programme Project Gigabit and how the biggest change to the telecom industry since Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for the first telephone on March 7, 1876, will affect local residents.

Project Gigabit seeks to enable hard-to-reach communities such as Grayshott and surrounding areas to access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband.

It follows the announcement that Openreach is withdrawing all copper-based voice telephone lines from the UK’s network on December 31, 2025, as the network will reach its end of life.

After this date, any customers using copper-based lines for their telephone service, and in some cases broadband, will find that their services no longer work.

Mr Hinds said: “Providing access to reliable, high speed broadband is a key target for the government, and particularly important in rural areas like East Hampshire.

“Great progress has been made in delivering the £5 billion Project Gigabit, but there are still some areas that are harder to reach.

“I welcome the work being done by Grayshott Gigabit to deliver the service for local residents and businesses, and the work they are doing to support the community more widely.”

For further information visit www.grayshottgigabit.com or telephone 01428 607000.