Connecting Cumbria Newsletter
Welcome to the February 2026 edition of the Connecting Cumbria newsletter.
In this issue we share the latest developments driving improved fixed line and mobile connectivity across Cumbria and beyond, provide an update on the Borderlands 5G Innovation Region programme, guide readers to useful information sources on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switch-off and social tariffs, direct readers to the Westmorland and Furness Council questionnaire on digital inclusion and revisit two of our case study businesses who are using online connectivity to support what they do. We are also giving a shout out to Cumbria based businesses who would like to be part of our Easter campaign.
If you have any questions regarding online connectivity in your area, then please direct these to the team at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk.
Progress Update: Project Gigabit Broadband Rollout Continues Across Cumbria
As we move further into 2026, the UK Government’s Project Gigabit programme continues to make strong progress toward its goal of delivering gigabit‑capable broadband to 99% of UK properties by 2032. The programme combines commercial investment with targeted public funding to ensure even hard‑to‑reach areas can benefit from next‑generation connectivity.
In Cumbria, delivery remains well on track. Connecting Cumbria currently estimates that by 2027/28, around 96% of properties will have access to gigabit‑capable broadband. This growing coverage is an important step in future‑proofing our communities and supporting local businesses, education, and day‑to‑day life.
The regional Project Gigabit contract between Building Digital UK (BDUK) and supplier Fibrus, operating as Hyperfast GB, continues to play a major role. Their deployment aims to connect up to 58,000 properties across the county, and progress is steadily increasing. Already, more than 30,000 properties can access these upgraded services. Deployment is expected to complete by the end of 2027.
If you’d like to know whether your property is included in the current rollout, you can check coverage plans via the Hyperfast GB website, or follow their Facebook page for local updates. Staying informed will help you make the most of faster, more reliable broadband as it becomes available in your area.
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Strengthening Cumbria’s Connectivity Through Commercial Investment
Commercial investment continues to play a major role in improving broadband services across Cumbria. Alongside publicly funded programmes, many broadband providers are using their own resources to deliver faster, more reliable connectivity to homes and businesses. These commercial deployments are an essential part of the UK Government’s ambition to reach 99% gigabit‑capable coverage by 2032.
In Cumbria, more than 200,000 properties are expected to benefit from major commercial build programmes already underway. Providers including B4RN, Fibrus, Openreach, Virgin Media O2, and others are actively expanding their networks across the county. This growing competition in the market is good news for residents and businesses, offering improved performance, greater choice, and better value.
As we progress through the year, it’s a great time to check what services are available in your area. The Ofcom broadband checker provides an up‑to‑date overview of the networks and speeds currently accessible at your address helping you find a package that best suits your home or business needs.
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Satellite broadband continues to provide an important alternative for residents and businesses in harder‑to‑reach parts of Cumbria. Satellite broadband has improved significantly in recent years, now offering faster speeds and more reliable connections making it a valuable option where fixed‑line services remain limited.
A growing range of satellite packages are now available, including entry‑level options suited to occasional use, mid‑range packages offering higher monthly data allowances, and premium services designed for heavier usage and remote working. Providers typically offer tiered plans with different speeds, data limits, and equipment costs, giving customers more flexibility depending on their needs.
If you’re looking for a way to stay online in hard-to-reach locations, satellite broadband could be the answer.
Read more here.
Mobile connectivity is essential across Cumbria, supporting social connection, access to remote healthcare services, continuity of online learning, effective community engagement, and resilient business operations.
Mobile Network Operators and the UK Government are working together to dramatically improve mobile coverage across Cumbria through the UK Government Shared Rural Network mobile programme (SRN).
The SRN have announced that 110 government-funded mast upgrades have been activated as part of the SRN programme by the end of January 2026. This includes 46 sites now live in Wales, 35 in Scotland and 29 in England (including 9 in Cumbria that are live with all MNOs).
The boost has been carried out by upgrading existing mobile masts which previously only connected EE customers and anyone making 999 calls, meaning communities can benefit from improved connectivity without the visual impact involved when building new masts.
If you want to check your current mobile coverage, including 5G availability, then visit the Ofcom Mobile Availability Checker here.
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The Borderlands 5G Innovation Region programme continues to progress as temporary installations transition to permanent infrastructure across all four key sites: Kielder, Destination Tweed, Stranraer Marina, and Windermere. Deployment teams are working closely with local stakeholders to embed the technology into everyday operations, enabling a wide range of innovative use cases at each venue. This marks an exciting phase for the programme, as the team’s dedicated efforts begin to translate into real‑world benefits and long‑term opportunities for the Borderlands region.
You can find out more about the programme by visiting the Borderlands 5G Innovation Region webpage here and following us on LinkedIn here.
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Westmorland and Furness Council is inviting residents to share their views on digital inclusion across the area. By completing the questionnaire, you will help them build a clearer picture of the challenges communities face and shape the actions they take to address them.
If you live in the Westmorland and Furness area and wish to take part, please view the questionnaire here - Digital Inclusion Questionnaire – Fill out form
Hard copy questionnaires will be available in your local library.
Closing date for responses is 13th March 2026. Please note this questionnaire is open to Westmorland and Furness residents only.
As highlighted in previous newsletters, the national withdrawal of the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is moving ahead, with full switch‑off scheduled for January 2027.
Migration to digital phone services is already well underway, as the PSTN is now outdated, energy‑inefficient, costly to maintain, and no longer suitable for modern communications needs.
The move to digital networks will ensure landline services remain reliable, modern, and fit for the future.
It is important to stay engaged with your service provider during this transition. Digital phone services are not self‑powered, so you may need a battery back‑up to keep essential devices running during a power cut, and some legacy equipment may not be compatible with the new system.
If you use assistive technology such as fall alarms, telecare systems, or other safety‑critical devices then please contact your provider as soon as possible to understand how the switch‑off might affect you and what support is available.
For more detailed information, here are some helpful resources:
Ofcom
UK Government
Which?
If you receive benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, you might qualify for a cheaper broadband or phone package. These discounted deals are called social tariffs, though some providers may refer to them as essential or basic tariffs.
Social tariffs work just like standard packages: the same service, but at a lower price. They’re designed to make staying connected more affordable for those who otherwise might struggle to meet the cost.
If you think you might be eligible, check with your provider to see what options they offer. It’s a quick step that could lead to big savings.
You can find out more about social tariffs here.
Community Catalysts are building a network of small enterprises that can offer care and support to people in their local community. Through a partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council, they are working with local people to develop new enterprises within the South Lakeland and Eden area, that can provide support to people in their homes.
We talked to Hannah Turner about how access to online connectivity supports them in what they do.
Read the full story here.
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Another Door Opens
When change knocks on your door It can be overwhelming, confusing, frustrating and lonely.
With a passion for supporting others through the challenges that change can bring, Eleanor Tweddell, who runs her business ‘Another Door Opens’ from her home in the rural village of Hesket New Market, aims to turn these feelings around to those of optimism, curiosity, excitement and hope.
We caught up with Eleanor to find out more about what she does, and how improved connectivity in her area enables her to run this successful business while living in the area she loves.
Read the full story here.
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If your business is using fixed line or mobile connectivity to support what it does and you would be interested in becoming one of our future case study stories, benefiting from local and possible national publicity through our programme, then please contact the team at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk.
We are currently looking to hear from businesses planning something special for the Easter period. If you have an event, promotion, or seasonal activity you’d like to showcase, we would love to include you in our Easter‑themed publicity feature. Please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
You can now follow the team on social media for all the latest news and information regarding connectivity across Cumbria.
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Any likes and shares are always appreciated.
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