09-04-2025
Major update on full fibre broadband roll out for Cumbrians
COUNCILLORS will next week get an update on Connecting Cumbria and the full fibre network roll out.
Members of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Council's joint overview and scrutiny committee are due to meet Cumbria House in Carlisle to consider the report.
It states: 'UK Government policy is focused on the delivery of gigabit capable broadband, irrespective of technology, however almost all deployment of gigabit capable services in Cumbria is through the deployment of full fibre infrastructure.
'Digital connectivity is vital to support the objectives of local authorities in Cumbria as this infrastructure supports delivery of services, education, business, leisure and social inclusion.
'Therefore, over the past 15 years there have been a number of initiatives to encourage telecoms investment and augment this with publicly funded investment to help the county catch-up with the connectivity in the wider UK.
'The Digital Champions for Cumberland Council, Cllr Chris Southward, and Westmorland and Furness Council, Cllr Peter Thornton, assisted by the Connecting Cumbria team, are responsible for delivering the Cumbria-wide Digital Infrastructure Strategy which includes a strong focus on the expansion of gigabit capable broadband services.'
According to the report In March 2021 the UK Government announced the Project Gigabit programme, managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), with a commitment of up to £5 billion in funding, to expand gigabit broadband services through:
Encourage competition and investment into gigabit capable infrastructure through the commercial telecoms market. Seeking to encourage maximum delivery at the maximum possible speed across the UK;
Deploy gigabit capable services to all GP surgeries, libraries and primary schools;
Fund gigabit vouchers to support rural community projects;
Contract for delivery of gigabit connectivity to areas where commercial deployment is not planned.
It adds: 'Across Cumbria there is significant commercially funded roll out of gigabit capable broadband with the majority of this work focused in urban areas.
'Work is also progressing, both as a result of the commercial deployment programme and some programmes managed through the Departments of Health or Education, on expansion of connectivity to GP surgeries, libraries and primary schools.
'Applications for new community voucher projects were paused by DSIT in 2023 but areas where a community project had already been agreed work is ongoing using this funding and top up funding provided through the Connecting Cumbria Voucher Top Up scheme.'
