Connecting Cumbria Newsletter
Welcome to the May edition of the Connecting Cumbria newsletter.
As we move further into spring, we’re pleased to bring you the latest updates on broadband and mobile connectivity across Cumbria, alongside news on digital programmes and how improved connectivity continues to support residents, businesses and visitors across the county.
If you have any questions regarding online connectivity in your area, please contact the team at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk.
The UK Government’s Project Gigabit programme continues to make strong progress towards delivering gigabit‑capable broadband to 99% of UK properties by 2032.
In Cumbria, delivery remains on track, with around 96% of properties expected to have access to gigabit‑capable broadband by 2027/28.
The regional contract between Building Digital UK (BDUK) and Fibrus (operating as Hyperfast GB) continues to play a central role. The rollout aims to reach up to 58,000 properties, with more than 33,000 already able to access gigabit‑capable services which, alongside commercial deployment, means that 87% of properties in Cumbria can currently access gigabit broadband.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to check whether their property is included in current plans via the Hyperfast GB website and to register interest to receive updates as deployment progresses.
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Eighty-nine percent of households across the UK can now get gigabit-capable broadband, new Ofcom research shows.
The watchdog’s Connected Nations Spring Update reveals that, as of January 2026, gigabit broadband – which delivers speeds of at least 1000 Mbit per second - is available to 27.1 million homes, up from 26.4 million (87%) last year.
Read more here.
To find out the connectivity options available in your area, visit here.
Commercial Broadband Deployment
Alongside publicly funded rollout, commercial investment continues to expand full fibre networks across Cumbria.
A number of providers are delivering infrastructure projects, with many additional areas expected to gain access to full fibre services over the coming months. These deployments remain key to achieving nationwide coverage targets and ensuring communities benefit from faster, more reliable connectivity.
To find out which providers are live in your area, visit the Ofcom Broadband Availability Checker.
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Virgin Media O2 is pledging to help 500,000 low-income households stay connected as part of its new ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategy, the Responsible Business Plan.
Through the new strategy, the operator is embedding ESG into every aspect of the business, taking greater ownership over the full lifecycle of its operations, from how its network is built and run, to the impact its products and services have on people’s lives.
Read the full story here.
Mobile Connectivity and Shared Rural Network
Strong mobile coverage is increasingly important across Cumbria, enabling people to stay connected, run businesses efficiently and access essential services wherever they are.
Through the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme, mobile coverage continues to improve in rural and hard‑to‑reach locations. As of 1 May 2026, 129 government-funded mast upgrades have gone live across the UK, including several sites in Cumbria which are now providing coverage from all major mobile operators.
Residents can check mobile coverage, including 4G and 5G availability, using the Ofcom mobile availability checker to access the latest information for their area.
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For many rural areas in Cumbria, a reliable signal can make a huge difference to everyday life and even emergency situations.
Stockdalewath, a village without phone signal but prone to flooding and home destruction, experienced severe flooding in 2024. This prevented residents from receiving evacuation alerts.
Recently, Cybermoor Services Ltd successfully demonstrated 4G coverage at Stockdalewath via Wavemobile’s compact mobile network, powered by Starlink satellite with electricity provided from an electric car. The kit demonstrated provides 4G coverage fitting in a case about the size of a pillow, including the radio, a Starlink Mini and the cables and power supplies.
Read the full story here.
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.
Read on to find out how online connectivity is supporting what they do here.
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We are always keen to hear from businesses across Cumbria who are using digital connectivity to support what they do.
If your organisation relies on broadband or mobile connectivity and you would be interested in becoming one of our future case study stories, we’d love to hear from you. Taking part is a great opportunity to showcase your work and highlight how connectivity is making a difference to your business or community.
We are currently looking for stories to feature in our summer press release. If your business is planning anything special over the summer that’s supported by online connectivity, we’d love to hear from you.
To get involved and benefit from some free publicity, please contact the team at info@connectingcumbria.org.uk
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Stay up to date with the latest news, programme updates and connectivity developments across Cumbria by following Connecting Cumbria on social media.
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We regularly share updates, case studies and useful information to help residents and businesses make the most of digital connectivity.
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