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Welcome to the October 2023 edition of the Connecting Cumbria newsletter.
This edition directs readers to the latest progress update on Project Gigabit from UK Government, provides information on the Fibrus Community Fund in Cumbria, provides information on how to find out about commercial deployment in specific areas of the county and points readers to information regarding mobile connectivity improvement programmes. We also talk to businesses from both the Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness areas of our county about how their broadband service supports them in 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
The Fibrus Community Fund Cumbria, which has now opened its second call for applications, aims to award funding to local communities in need of support. The fund’s main goal is to support those experiencing digital poverty in rural areas, with a particular focus on grassroots organisations and community groups. Successful grants, typically up to £2,000 in value, will be allocated to support on-the-ground digital technology projects which make key differences to communities, enhancing people’s lives and well-being. A particular focus will be placed on children, young people and older people who could benefit from digital support.
To learn more information, view the full eligibility criteria, or to apply to the fund visit https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/fibrus-community-fund-cumbria/. The fund will close for applications on 10 November.
For more information on groups who have received funding to date, please visit - https://fibrus.com/2023/08/21/fibrus-grants-help-to-tackle-digital-poverty-in-cumbria/
Look out for Fibrus at the Borderway Agri Expo Event at Harrison and Hetherington Borderway Mart, Rosehill, Carlisle, CA1 2RS, on Friday 27 October 2023. Representatives will be available to discuss deployment of Project Gigabit and Fibrus commercial works across the county.
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We are often asked questions about the broadband commercial deployments delivered by network operators around Cumbria.
To find out which network operators are in your area please check your postcode at https://checker.ofcom.org.uk/en-gb/broadband-coverage#
This checker will let you input your postcode, you will then be prompted to select your full postal address, to check the picture for properties across the UK. At the foot of the results, showing the speeds available to your premise, is a section advising of the network opertors available in your area with links to their websites to find out more information.
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Alongside the continuous commercial work by mobile operators across the country, there are a number of UK Government backed programmes of work to improve mobile connectivity. Some of these are listed below:
Shared Rural Network
Emergency Services Network
5G
The Borderlands Partnership
We will provide readers with all the updates on these programmes as they become available.
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The Listers of Oughterside Mill are looking at ways to provide an insight to the world of farming. As they embark on the eagerly awaited opening of their Listershire pumpkin patch, we talked to them about how important their fibre to the premise (FTTP) broadband service is to support this.
“We had been struggling for some time with poor broadband speeds before the arrival of FTTP in our area. We didn’t at first appreciate you had to request the upgrade rather than it being automatic. Once we did this, the process was relatively straightforward and managed by our service provider, and once installed wow, what a difference it made.”
The Listers took to social media to drum up publicity and are using the ‘Eventbrite’ system to manage bookings to the pumpkin patch.
“As we develop our ‘open farm’ idea we are sure we will further progress our online presence. This is a really exciting time for us.”
Read the full story here.
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One local business who is very much benefitting from the arrival of fibre in Ainstable village, is The Heather Glen Country House. "One of the most frequent requests we get from clients is access to wi-fi. Upgrading to fibre broadband has meant this is something we can offer at a fast and reliable speed."
Set in the heart of the Eden Valley, the Heather Glen Country House is a family run wedding venue and restaurant which also offers private functions and accommodation. Manager David Graham describes how improved broadband speeds have benefitted the business.
Read more here.
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Are you a business in either the Westmorland and Furness or Cumberland areas using fixed line or mobile connectivity to support what you do? We are really keen to talk to you about this with a view to creating our next case study story. We are especially interested in Christmas themed case studies at this time of year.
If you would like to get involved, then please contact the team at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.
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