ACCORDING to Openreach, ten of thousands homes and businesses across Cumbria will receive full-fibre broadband in the next 18 months.

The plans to extend the network include places in Barrow, Carlisle, Cleator Moor, Kirkby Lonsdale, Penrith, Shap, Ulverston and Walney. 

The new ‘full fibre’ network is up to ten times faster than the average UK broadband connection and around five times more reliable than the old copper-based network it’s replacing.

However, thousands of residents and businesses are still without full-fibre broadband.  

So far Openreach has already spent around £10 million commercially and in partnership with Cumbria County Council’s Connecting Cumbria programme.

Robert Thorburn, Openreach’s Partnership Director for the North West, said: “Following our earlier work in partnership with Cumbria County Council, our commercial investment across Cumbria continues at pace, and we’re determined to deliver a great service which helps communities to thrive and supports people to work from home easily, keep in touch with their loved ones and build connections and opportunities.”

Openreach argues that building a full-fibre network 'in one of the most challenging geographies in the UK' has meant that it has taken longer for this region than other regions to receive full fibre optic broadband. 

They also said that engineers have to work around the farming calendar and the busiest times of the tourist season to keep disruption to a minimum, and working in one of the wettest regions in the UK plays another factor. 

READ MORE: Dalton to see UK's fastest broadband roll out after £4m investment

Councillor David Southward, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for economic development said: “The value of fast broadband connections to businesses and homes in Cumbria cannot be overstated. 

"Tourism, the food retail industry, and many other small businesses need quick and reliable connections so that instead of having to search endlessly for customers, the customers find them. 

"I am delighted that the council’s Connecting Cumbria programme has been able to work collaboratively with Openreach which has helped thousands of local people and businesses benefit from improved broadband speeds, and helps people to stay connected.”

Openreach plans to reach 25 million homes across the UK by 2026.