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Welcome to the June edition of the Connecting Cumbria newsletter. As we head into summer, momentum drives forward, with new infrastructure rolling out and exciting progress being made to enhance all aspects of digital connectivity across the county.
The UK Government’s Project Gigabit programme continues to make strong progress towards delivering gigabit‑capable broadband to 99% of UK properties by 2032, combining commercial investment with targeted public funding to reach even the hardest‑to‑access areas.
In Cumbria, delivery remains on track, with around 96% of properties expected to have access to gigabit‑capable broadband by 2027/28. This improved connectivity will help future‑proof communities, support businesses, and strengthen digital access across the county.
A key part of this work is the Project Gigabit contract between BDUK and Fibrus, operating locally as Hyperfast GB. Rollout aims to reach up to 58,000 properties, with nearly 35,000 already able to access gigabit‑capable services. Deployment is expected to complete by the end of 2027.
Fibrus will be attending a range of local community events over the summer months. Check their website and Facebook page for further information.
To check whether your property is included in the current rollout, visit the Hyperfast GB website - Home - Hyperfast GB
Fibrus Play it Forward Fund
Focused on children’s clubs and grassroots sports, the Fibrus Play it Forward Fund provides essential funds to non-profit voluntary and community groups, organisations, and charities across Northern Ireland and Cumbria.
The Fund helps with a range of sports projects including, purchasing new kits and equipment, improving club facilities or subsiding training fees.
If you have any queries, please contact us on Sponsorships@fibrus.com. Applications close on Friday 12th June at 12pm.
Find out more here.
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The Borderlands 5G Innovation Region programme is continuing to move forward, with the delivery phase now seeing temporary installations replaced by permanent 5G infrastructure across all four core sites: Kielder, Destination Tweed, Stranraer Marina and Windermere. This marks a key step in embedding the technology for the longer term.
Work is ongoing with local partners to integrate 5G into everyday operations, enabling a growing range of practical and innovative uses tailored to each location. As the programme progresses, the foundations laid during earlier phases are beginning to translate into real, lasting benefits and opportunities for communities and organisations across the Borderlands.
To find out more, visit the Borderlands 5G Innovation Region webpage here and following us on LinkedIn here.
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Work to improve mobile coverage across Cumbria continues in partnership with government and telecoms providers.
The Emergency Services Network (ESN) and the UK Government Shared Rural Network (SRN) are working together to enhance emergency services communication capabilities. The SRN is part of the ESN programme which aims to replace the existing airwave network with a more modern and efficient communication system.
The ESN focusses on providing coverage in areas that were previously underserved by the airwave network, ensuring that emergency services can communicate effectively even in remote and rural locations. The SRN’s coverage is designed to complement the ESN’s network, providing a seamless transition for emergency services from the old system to the new one.
As of end May 2026, the SRN programme had completed 136 government-funded mast upgrades which includes 35 in England. In terms of Cumbria itself, there are 19 ESN masts live, of which the SRN have made 10 ready for service from all MNOs. These upgrades are already making a difference for communities that previously experienced limited or unreliable mobile signal.
Residents and businesses can review current mobile coverage at their location, including 4G and 5G availability, by using the Ofcom Mobile Availability Checker here. This tool offers the most up‑to‑date information for each network.
Connecting Cumbria, working on behalf of Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils, has been progressing development of the Northern Mobile Resilience Forum which aims to engage with elected representatives, industry and communities to ensure that the highest possible levels of resilience for mobile telecommunications services are delivered and maintained across the North of England and South of Scotland.
Reliable communications are an important part of everyday life and emergency response, particularly in rural areas such as Cumbria where geography and network design can make services more sensitive to disruption.
As the UK’s digital switchover progresses towards 2027, mobile networks are playing an increasingly important role in how people access voice and data services. While overall coverage is generally high, real-world experience can vary due to local conditions and network capacity. Work is underway to improve understanding of these variations.
The Forum will complement the roles of telecommunications providers, regulators and resilience partnerships by sharing information, identifying vulnerabilities, and supporting evidence-based improvements, while linking to wider resilience strategies and guidance published by councils and partner organisations.
Readers will be provided with updates on the forum over the coming months.
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SP Electricity North West is your electricity network operator in Cumbria. They’re here to support if you need a bit of extra help in a power cut. By signing up to their Extra Care Register you can let them know if you have any additional needs in your household, like medical needs that rely on power, or if you have people in the household under five or over 65. You can also let them know if you struggle with mobile signal during a power cut so they can prioritise help and support.
Join the Extra Care Register here, or if you are already on the Register and want to update your details, including information about mobile coverage issues let SP ENW know here.
Readers are advised that if they cannot access a reliable mobile phone service, or if they use a digital landline or a phone that does not function during a power outage, they should indicate this as their reason for registering by selecting the appropriate option on the sign-up form.
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RockWith is an independent music promotion company based in Cumbria, founded by Russ Withey. The business has rapidly grown into a vital connector between local artists and venues, helping musicians find platforms and helping venues source talent for events.
From small acoustic acts to lively bands, RockWith's mission is to support and rejuvenate Cumbria’s music scene by giving emerging artists greater visibility. This community-focused approach was recognised when RockWith was named Community Business of the Year at the 2024 Pride of Cumbria Awards, celebrating its positive impact on local culture and grassroots music.
Over time, RockWith has brought a wide variety of events to life across Cumbria. This steady expansion highlights not only the growing appetite for live, music-focused experiences in the region, but also the vital part the business plays in helping that scene continue to flourish. While music promotion is traditionally viewed through the lens of live performances, artist outreach, and event management, the digital backbone behind RockWith’s operations is just as essential.
Find out how RockWith depend on strong online connectivity to support what they do here.
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We’re always keen to hear from Cumbrian businesses who would like to become future Connecting Cumbria case studies. We have a number of exciting stories already in development, and we’re grateful to the businesses involved for their support.
If improved broadband or mobile connectivity has helped your organisation to grow, reach new markets, adopt digital tools, support flexible working, or enhance customer service, we’d love to hear your experience. Sharing real‑world examples helps highlight the impact of digital investment and supports ongoing improvements across the county.
If you’re interested in taking part, please get in touch with the team at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk.
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