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Welcome to the June 2023 edition of the Connecting Cumbria newsletter.
This edition celebrates the progress made in the first 6 months of delivery of the UK Government Project Gigabit regional delivery contract in Cumbria, notes the upcoming events where Fibrus will be available to talk about Project Gigabit delivery and picks up on some of the frequently asked questions we receive. We also talk to a business in Kendal about their broadband service and a business in the Kirkbride area who use 4G services to support what they do.
If you would like to see any specific topics covered in future editions of the Connecting Cumbria newsletter, or if you have any queries regarding connectivity in your area then please forward these to the team at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk
Broadband provider Fibrus has announced that the first homes have been connected as part of the new £108m gigabit-capable broadband scheme to improve connectivity in rural Cumbria.
Read more here.
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Look out for Fibrus at many of the agricultural shows across Cumbria over the coming months where they will be available to talk about Project Gigabit plans for your area. Look out for them at:
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Agricultural Show
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Date
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Penrith
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15 July 2023 (note edit to date listed in previous newsletter)
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Cartmel
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2 August 2023
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Gilsland
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6 August 2023
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Lakeland Country Fair
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20 August 2023
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Westmorland Show
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13 & 14 September 2023
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Readers are urged to follow the Hyperfast GB website and follow their Facebook page for all the latest news and event information.
Project Gigabit delivery has commenced in Cumbria. This £108m gigabit-capable broadband scheme will improve connectivity across our county. Further details regarding deployment will be made available via the Hyperfast GB website and Hyperfast GB Facebook page.
Alongside this, there is a strong commercial programme of works by a number of commercial providers which will further enhance connectivity across our region.
To find out what is happening in your specific area, send your full postal address to info@connectingcumbria.org.uk
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Whilst the team are unable to give any specific contractual advice, we are able to point readers in the direction of Ofcom support on this:
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Ofcom accredited price comparison sites
Choosing the best Broadband provider
Broadband Speeds – What you need to know
Switching Broadband Provider
New Contract Checklist
Managing Broadband costs
We also urge readers to remember that social tariffs which are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits are available. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband. More information on these can be found here.
Mobile Network Operators and Government are working together to transform mobile coverage countywide through the UK Government Shared Rural Network mobile programme, which is seeking to deliver 95% geographical 4G coverage in the UK from at least one Mobile Network Operator by 2025. The Connecting Cumbria team are committed to supporting this piece of work. Keep up with all the latest developments on this here.
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Telecoms companies are upgrading their networks and rolling out new digital call services. This will mean changes for the way landline calls are delivered in the UK.
Find out what this means for you here.
Based in Kendal, Penny Millar owns and runs Pink Spaghetti Kendal and South Lakeland District, a small team of virtual assistants specialising in helping small and medium sized businesses with their back office and admin tasks.
We talked to Penny about how the arrival of superfast broadband has enabled her team to do what they do faster and more effectively.
Read more here.
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Between the Lake District National Park and the Solway Coast AONB, on the edge of Kirkbride near Wigton, lies a hidden gem of The Den at Four Acre. Available for exclusive hire, between April and September this stunning new rustic tipi venue is available over an agreed number of days per booking giving enough time for clients to tailor this beautiful venue to their taste and hold their event.
We talked to Sarah Carruthers who owns and runs this exciting new business about the importance of having access to a 4G service available on site.
Read more here.
Find out more about how we are supporting improvements to broadband and mobile connectivity across Cumbria in the Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2022-23 update document here.
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