January 2026 Newsletter – Special Edition - Connecting Cumbria Unveils Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2026–2030
Westmorland and Furness Council sent this bulletin at 22-01-2026 12:08 PM GMT
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Connecting Cumbria Newsletter January 2026
As we begin 2026, we’d like to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year. The year ahead brings exciting opportunities for Cumbria, including a major step forward in improving digital connectivity for our communities, businesses and public services.
Connecting Cumbria Unveils Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2026–2030
Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council have jointly launched the Cumbria Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2026–2030, setting out a bold and ambitious plan to deliver world‑class digital connectivity across the county.
Building on Success
The new strategy builds on the achievements of the 2020–2025 Digital Infrastructure Strategy and supports Cumbria’s growing £12 billion economy. It recognises that strong digital infrastructure is essential to modern life, enabling access to public services and education, supporting business growth, boosting productivity and promoting social inclusion.
Readers can access the Cumbria Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2026–2030 here.
No one and no place in Cumbria left behind
The ambition of the Cumbria Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2026–2030 is clear; to ensure that everyone and everywhere in Cumbria can benefit from fast, reliable and future‑ready digital connectivity, enabling the county to thrive economically, socially and digitally.
At its core, the strategy sets out to transform digital infrastructure from a barrier into an enabler for Cumbria’s communities, businesses and public services.
This will be done through:
Supporting the delivery of gigabit‑capable broadband
Improving mobile network coverage across urban and rural areas
Creating opportunities for 5G innovation
What will the strategy focus on?
The Cumbria Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2026–2030 focuses on a small number of clear, practical priorities designed to accelerate digital connectivity across the county while ensuring rural and urban communities benefit equally.
These four key areas are:
Making Cumbria’s voice heard at a national level
Supporting public and commercially funded digital investment
Developing local interventions that go beyond national connectivity targets
Monitoring future technological developments
Why is this so important?
Digital connectivity is now fundamental to Cumbria’s economic, social and environmental future.
Cllr Chris Southward, Cumberland Council’s Digital Champion, said:
“Digital infrastructure is absolutely vital for Cumbria. It underpins everything Cumberland Council aims to achieve by supporting the delivery of essential services, education, business growth, leisure opportunities, and ensuring social inclusion for all our communities.”
Cllr Peter Thornton, Digital Champion for Westmorland and Furness Council, added:
“Ongoing improvements to Cumbria’s digital infrastructure are critical to delivering the Cumbria Economic Strategy, boosting productivity, and supporting public services. Adopting the Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2026–2030 gives us a clear framework to drive these improvements and enable programmes that depend on strong digital connectivity.”
Find out more
Readers can access the Cumbria Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2026-30 here.
The latest press release from Connecting Cumbria can be accessed here.
If you have any questions relating to any aspect of digital connectivity across Cumbria, then contact the team at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk
You can now follow the team on social media for all the latest news and information regarding connectivity across Cumbria.
