A Cumbrian farmer who describes receiving full fibre broadband as transformational is among the homes and businesses now able to connect to lightning-fast speeds through Project Gigabit.
Project Gigabit is a Government-funded programme to allow hard-to-reach communities to access fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband.
Fibrus is rolling out next generation broadband services to homes and businesses that might have otherwise missed out on gigabit upgrades across Cumbria, part of a £108 million connectivity boost.
Fibrus was awarded the contract in November 2022, which initially covered 32,000 homes and businesses in Cumbria.
Today the company said it had achieved a major milestone in its contract, successfully delivering reliable connectivity to almost 12,500 homes and businesses in Cumbria – on time and within budget.
Fibrus’ UK Government contract has been extended, allowing the company to deliver full fibre broadband to an additional 21,000 previously under-served premises in Cumbria.
Once completed, alongside other commercial expansion plans, 99% of homes and businesses in Cumbria will have access to next-generation broadband.
Among those benefiting from wider access to lightning-fast full fibre broadband is dairy farmer Andrew Williamson, of High Hesket.
Andrew, who farms 240 pedigree Holsteins at Inglewood House at Calthwaite near Penrith, said: “It has made a huge difference. The farm is right on the end of the line and continually had problems with phone lines and internet speed.
“We’ve gone from 2mb at the best, up to 500mb overnight. The reliability has made a huge difference to the farm, it has made everything more efficient.
“Farming has changed massively in the last 20 or 30 years, and everything we do is data driven.
” The problem is, as things get more sophisticated you need more speed. All the milk recording and information we need on the pedigree of the cows is web-based, so having good internet and website access is really important.”
Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “Fast, reliable broadband is essential to help grow businesses and our economy as a whole, and Project Gigabit is rolling out the connectivity to help make this growth a reality for people. For farmers like Andrew, it demonstrates how businesses can thrive with access to great digital connectivity.
“We’re breaking down barriers to opportunity and nowhere is this more apparent than in Cumbria, where almost 12,500 more homes and businesses now have access to lightning-fast broadband.”
In April 2023, Fibrus launched the Community Fund Cumbria to help combat digital poverty, with a special focus on supporting older and younger members of the community. By the end of this year, Fibrus will have invested £180,000 to help tackle digital exclusion in the region.
Fibrus also introduced the Play it Forward Fund in 2023, providing vital funding to grassroots, non-profit sports clubs across Cumbria.
To date, 40 clubs have benefited from the initiative. Fibrus also had an apprentice training facility at the former agricultural college at Newton Rigg, near Penrith. So far, 46 apprentices have completed their training, with 74 more set to be trained by 2026.
