More than 25,000 homes and businesses across Cumbria can now order some of the fastest, most reliable broadband in Europe.

Carlisle, Cleator Moor, Penrith, Dalston and Shap are some of the areas set to benefit from the new technology, as Openreach engineers continue to build the network across the county.

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

The new ultrafast, ultra-reliable ‘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 but thousands of residents and businesses have yet to upgrade and are not taking advantage of the benefits of the new technology.

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Robert Thorburn, Openreach’s Partnership Director for the North West, said: "Research shows that this new network will give businesses an edge and give families and home-workers future-proof connectivity, no matter what life throws at us next.

"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."

Planning and building a full fibre network in one of the most challenging geographies in the UK is no mean feat and engineering challenges intensify as engineers reach the more remote rural communities in the county.

Engineers also have to ensure that work fits around the farming calendar as well as the busiest times of the tourist season to keep disruption to a minimum.

Adding in the constraints of the National Park, lots of very long, thin and winding roads as well as working in one of the wettest locations in the UK, means the teams have to be prepared for every eventuality and work can take much longer than in more urban geographies.

Councillor David Southward, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, added: “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."