Project Gigabit delivery continues across Cumbria.  This up to £108m gigabit-capable broadband scheme will improve connectivity across our county through targeting up to 60,000 properties that are not expected to be reached through commercial deployment programmes. 

You can follow all the latest news and find out all the latest deployment information via the Fibrus Hyperfast GB website where you are now able to check the status of your property using the ‘check availability’ tab. 

There are extensive works progressing under this programme and we are expecting some highways disruption during the next few months. The Cumbria Streetworks and Highways teams are working closely with Fibrus, and other fibre build suppliers, to seek to minimise disruption and maximise safety.

There is a strong commercial programme of works by a number of commercial providers to further enhance connectivity happening across our region with these programmes expected to reach more than 200,000 properties.

Find out which companies are currently offering services in your area using the Ofcom broadband checker tool

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 and 80% from all four.  The Connecting Cumbria team are committed to supporting this piece of work.  Keep up with all the latest developments on this here.

You can find out more about current mobile connectivity in your area using the Ofcom mobile availability checker here.

Since our last newsletter the programme has continued to progress the procurement process to appoint technical support.  A supplier is expected to be appointed this summer.  Once in place, the technical support supplier will be working to a tight timescale to deliver 5G innovative solutions to the five identified sites across the Borderlands area. 

Representatives from each of the five local authorities in England and Scotland which make up the Borderlands Partnership (Cumberland Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council, Scottish Borders Council and Westmorland and Furness Council) continue to develop the plan of works for these five initial sites noted as:

• Destination Tweed
• Kielder Castle and Forest
• Stranraer Marina
• The Sill @ Hadrian’s Wall
• Windermere 5G Ferry

The announcement that Borderlands has been named as one of the ten 5G Innovation Regions by UK Government can be found here.

5G is a critical emerging technology which will create a range of opportunities for business, leisure, transport, service delivery and safety.  We are continuing to look at opportunities across Cumbria to support 5G deployments to ensure that Cumbria is positioned to maximise benefits from this technology for our businesses, residents and visitors.

Readers are directed to the below information sources to find out more:

5G New Thinking – please click here.

Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator 5G – please click here.

On the outskirts of Carlisle on the A69 you will find Temon Farm Milk Barn, a family run working farm fulfilling a host of diversification projects using their renowned pasteurised whole milk from their herd of jersey cross cows.

Ross and Elaine Pattinson, moved to Temon Farm back in 2011 and since then have gone from strength to strength with their herd of British Blue cattle, mixed commercial flock of sheep, milk production and latterly their diversification projects into the sale of pasteurised milk, milkshakes, ice creams and treat box.

We talked to Elaine Pattinson, who alongside her family, runs all aspects of this business, about the importance of having a stable online connection at all times.

Read the full story here.

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. 

If you would like to get involved, benefiting from local and possible national publicity through our programme, then please contact the team at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk.  We look forward to hearing from you.