Service personnel at RAF Northolt will be kept in contact with family and friends courtesy of a new high-speed wireless network from BT.

Around 480 wireless access points have been installed to ensure coverage in offices, accommodation blocks and communal areas across the base, for both business and personal use.

Group Captain Andy Bacon, Station Commander RAF Northolt said: "As we approach our centenary year here at RAF Northolt, we’re transforming the station to support our 21st Century needs. RAF Northolt delivers a wide variety of military and cross-Government outputs. Clear communication channels are a key enabler for all that we do. Wi-fi for military, commercial and personal use is a step change and welcome way forward - we’ve saved money as well.”

The fibre infrastructure underpinning the wi-fi network is providing a modern, secure, and resilient network that enhances RAF Northolt’s capabilities for operational, commercial and welfare services. It will also allow the base to make year-on-year cost savings.

Chet Patel, BT’s regional director for London, said: “We know how important staying connected is for people in their everyday lives, but it becomes even more important in this environment. BT is proud to be enabling our service personnel to become more operationally and personally effective through being better connected.”

As part of the contract, BT has also installed a public address system which uses the same infrastructure, enabling RAF Northolt to quickly communicate operational announcements across the whole base when necessary.             

Earlier in July we reported that the warm nights could make noise from RAF test flights worse.