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Fibrus has completed the first phase of its government-funded Project Gigabit rollout across Cumbria, having brought Full Fibre broadband to over 37,700 homes and businesses to some of the county’s hardest-to-reach communities.
The milestone marks a significant step in the delivery of the UK government’s Project Gigabit programme, which is extending gigabit-capable connectivity to communities that are less likely to benefit from commercial investment.
Since work began, Fibrus has delivered Full Fibre broadband to over 37,700 homes and businesses, helping to improve digital connectivity for households and businesses across rural Cumbria.
The rollout forms part of a £150 million investment from the UK government, with the wider programme set to reach more than 53,500 homes and businesses across the county. Alongside Fibrus’ commercial rollout plans, the investment will play a major role in ensuring that 99 per cent of homes and businesses in Cumbria have access to next-generation broadband by the end of 2027, helping to make the region one of the most connected counties in the UK.
UK Telecoms Minister, Ian Murray, said:
“Fibrus’ milestone is real progress in bringing faster broadband to Cumbria’s rural and remote communities that would otherwise miss out without government investment.”
“For local businesses and community organisations, our gigabit boost means reaching more customers, supporting volunteers and helping people stay connected to each other. This is just one way we are spreading opportunity to every part of the country.”
One organisation already benefiting from the rollout is Wellness Walks, a Cumbrian-based UK charity that supports wellbeing through guided walks and outdoor activities. Founded by Kelvyn James during the pandemic, the charity began as a local initiative delivering walks in and around Cumbria. Today, it has grown into a volunteer-led organisation with more than 120 volunteers supporting communities across Northern England, Wales and Scotland.
Since connecting to Full Fibre broadband through Fibrus in May 2026, Wellness Walks has been able to strengthen engagement across its growing volunteer network, enhance training and communications, and support its continued expansion into new areas. Reliable, gigabit-capable connectivity enables Kelvyn to run the organisation from his home office in rural Orton, coordinating volunteers and activities across multiple regions. As he puts it, “head office is the internet.”
Kelvyn said: “For us, reliable broadband isn’t a luxury, it’s essential. I run the charity from my home office in rural Orton and we don’t have mobile phone signal, so everything we do relies on our broadband connection. Before Full Fibre, connectivity could be unpredictable. We used to schedule training sessions around peak usage times, and I’d often joke that I could see the school bus going past and know we needed to wrap things up before the network slowed down.”
“Since connecting to Fibrus, it’s given us the confidence to embrace technology in a much bigger way. We’ve been able to move key elements of our volunteer training online, making it easier for people to gain new skills, complete essential training and build confidence that supports their wider employability. With more than 120 volunteers across Northern England, Wales and Scotland, reliable connectivity helps us stay connected, support our volunteers and grow our impact.”
“As we look ahead, we’re exploring new ways to support our communities both online and offline. By enhancing our digital content output and bringing additional digital expertise into the charity such as AI, we can be as powerful online as we are offline. Reliable broadband gives us the foundation to reach more people than ever before, strengthening our mission of helping as many people, in as many places, as possible.”
Rolling out network infrastructure across Cumbria is a complex and demanding undertaking, one that has been spearheaded by Fibrus’ delivery partner, Viberoptix.
The region’s rugged terrain, protected heritage sites, and tourism-related restrictions make it one of the most challenging environments for broadband deployment, making this milestone all the more significant.
Jenny Lennon, Managing Director of Hyperfast Networks, said:
“Completing the first phase of our Project Gigabit rollout in Cumbria is a significant milestone for our teams and, most importantly, for the communities we are connecting. Cumbria presents some of the most challenging conditions for building new fibre infrastructure, so reaching this point is a testament to the commitment, expertise and collaboration of everyone involved.
“We’re already seeing the positive impact that reliable connectivity can have. Stories like Kelvyn’s demonstrate how Full Fibre broadband is supporting local organisations, enabling remote working and creating new opportunities for communities to grow and thrive.
“As we move into the next phase of the rollout, our focus remains on extending those benefits to even more communities across Cumbria, ensuring more people can access these opportunities.”