A Cumbrian training provider is calling for better internet access in rural areas as data shows Cumbria districts are lagging behind the rest of the country.
In all Cumbrian districts except Barrow the percentage of properties not able to receive decent broadband – at least 10mb/s download speed and 1mb/s upload speed – was above the national average.
When looking at the percentage of properties eligible for full fibre broadband, all districts in Cumbria were below the national average, except for South Lakeland.
The data was taken from communications regulator Ofcom’s latest ‘Connected Nations’ report.
PHX Training managing director Briony Fawcett said: “We’ve always known that our rural location in Cumbria means that we tend to suffer from poorer internet access, but with training courses and functional skills now moving online because of COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, people who need the extra support are being left behind.
“In the past, people would access libraries or training centres like ours to access courses, but people now feel safer accessing them from home so it’s vital they make sure that they can do that without struggling with slow internet problems.
“We need to make sure that everyone is on a level playing field with access to a good quality internet, wherever they live.”
Percentage of properties not able to receive decent broadband with at least 10mb/s download speed and 1mb/s upload speed:
- Allerdale – 3 per cent
- Barrow – 0 per cent
- Carlisle – 4 per cent
- Copeland – 2 per cent
- Eden – 9 per cent
- England – 1 per cent
- South Lakeland – 2 per cent
Percentage of properties eligible for full-fibre broadband:
- Allerdale – 3 per cent
- Barrow – 1 per cent
- Carlisle – 6 per cent
- Copeland – 2 per cent
- Eden – 5 per cent
- England – 10 per cent
- South Lakeland – 10 per cent
