This edition of the newsletter provides an update on all aspects of connectivity across Cumbria, provides an update on the Borderlands 5G Innovation Region programme and points readers to our recent Christmas press release which features two local businesses and the importance of connectivity in supporting 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

We would like to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We thank you for your continued support of the programme and look forward to seeing further connectivity advances across Cumbria in 2025.

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. Over 7,000 properties are already able to order services on this new infrastructure with many more due to be able to order services by the New Year.  

The programme in Cumbria is currently being reviewed by Building Digital UK, an executive Government agency sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with the expectation of releasing additional properties for deployment planning by Fibrus under the contract. Please note that we do not have a firm timescale for this process but we are hopeful to hear the outcome of this review in the New Year.

Building Digital UK have issued their UK wide Project Gigabit Update Report November 2024.  This can be viewed here.

Further details regarding deployment in Cumbria are available via the Hyperfast GB website where you can check the status of your property using the ‘check availability’ tab, and the Hyperfast GB Facebook page. 

Significant private investment has been attracted to Cumbria in the past couple of years and there is a strong commercial programme of works by a number of providers to further enhance connectivity happening across our county. These programmes are investing over £300m with works 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. We strongly recommend taking advantage of competition between networks and shopping around to find the package that suits you best.

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 84% 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 Borderlands 5GIR delivery team and lead supplier AWTG Ltd have been making significant progress with the delivery of innovative 5G solutions across the five sites identified in the Borderlands area. In Cumbria the focus for initial investment is the Ferry Nab area of Windermere where 5G connectivity will support the operations of the ferry crossing, enhance public safety and facilities management., This will create the opportunity to develop new ways of delivering connectivity to passengers, the local community and local businesses around the initial deployment area, including into parts of Bowness. With a current focus on the high-level radio design and engaging with key stakeholders, the team have attended events in Bowness on Windermere and Kielder Observatory  where representatives from Connecting Cumbria and AWTG Ltd were able to demonstrate  some of the advanced wireless technology planned for installation and answer any questions from staff, vendors and visitors.

Feedback from the events is being used to shape the work of the delivery team looking forward, identifying the needs and requirement of potential users and highlighting any areas of query and concern. 

The press release following attendance at the Bowness Glebe Christmas market 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 research and development 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.

With unprecedented levels of investment into digital infrastructure across Cumbria of over £400m between commercial and public funded programmes, there has never been a better time for businesses to check the upgrade options available to them in order to reap the benefits of improved connectivity.

More than 95% of homes and businesses across the county can now access superfast broadband speeds of above 30Mbps with 62% now able to access gigabit speeds.

There are also opportunities to use greater mobile connectivity around the county with current outdoor 4G geographic coverage levels standing at over 91% from at least one mobile provider and 65% from all 4 major UK network providers.

Featuring local businesses Gift and Stitch Aspatria and the Fell Foodie, you can 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.