Faster broadband boosts businesses across Cumbria
Businesses across Cumbria are harnessing the power of faster, fibre-based broadband to boost sales, raise their online profile and work more efficiently.
More than 127,000 (approx. 94%) of homes and businesses across the county can now access superfast broadband speeds of above 30Mbps thanks to the work of the county council’s Connecting Cumbria programme, Openreach - the UK’s largest digital network provider, and other commercial network providers.
More than 75% of those properties have chosen to upgrade but there are still thousands of Cumbrians who may not realise that they are able to order faster broadband services.
Cllr David Southward, Cabinet Member for Economic Development spoke of the availability of fibre-based broadband to premises across Cumbria:
“The pandemic and subsequent restrictions have demonstrated beyond all doubt the importance of digital connectivity to us all but in particular to businesses who found ingenious ways to continue growing when their normal ways of doing business ground to a halt.
“Much of that has involved growing their online presence which has in turn exposed them to new customers and markets as well as making everyday admin back-office tasks more efficient.
“I would encourage everyone to check if they can order a faster broadband service and, if they can, get signed up and experience for themselves the difference it can make.”
Benefits of faster broadband include adopting remote working and online collaborations which support reduced travel and decarbonisation, remote access to services and products, an opportunity to sell products to a global market, free advertising via social media platforms and in Cumbria, where the tourism sector is crucial, business owners are better able to meet visitor expectations by being able to offer online booking, electronic payment and guarantee continued access to online services at holiday accommodation.
There is also endless opportunity for the development of online skills and access to education, entertainment, and employment.
Across Cumbria the push to build better broadband continues. Openreach, the UK’s largest digital network provider, has recently committed to build a full fibre network to more than 100,000 homes and business across the county in the coming months and years, with more than 12,000 premises already able to access this new technology.
To help Cumbrians in getting the most out of the new infrastructure, support is available to help businesses across Cumbria harness the benefits of digital technologies through Digital Tech Cumbria who offer free support to the value of £5,000 to improve productivity, profitability, and performance. There has never been a better time for businesses to find out if they can place an order to upgrade their service. To find out more visit www.connectingcumbria.org.uk or https://dtc.winningmoves.com/
To check if you can order improved services please visit www.connectingcumbria.org.uk.
