Fibrus brings lightning-fast broadband to Workington

Nearly 12,000 homes and businesses across the town of Workington now have access to lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband, thanks to Fibrus. 

The telecoms provider has been working in Cumbria since 2021, bringing full-fibre optic cable all the way to premises to provide connection speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second. This is far superior to the speeds achieved with conventional copper phone networks. 

Of the 36,000 homes to be offered full-fibre connections across the county, a third are in Workington. 

Colin Hutchinson, chief financial officer for Fibrus, said: “We identified Workington as an area in need of enhanced broadband connections and prioritised the town accordingly. 

“We’ve been working hard to instal infrastructure, laying around 250 kilometres of cable in Workington alone. Full-fibre broadband is the mains electricity of the 21st century and it’s vital that it is widely available.” 

Alongside its commercial roll-out, Fibrus has started work to connect tens of thousands of people living and working in rural Cumbria to high-speed connectivity as part of a £108 million government contract.  

Project Gigabit is the government’s mission to bring lightning fast, reliable broadband to hard-to-reach communities across the UK. 

MP Mark Jenkinson praised Fibrus for focusing on Workington. 

He said: “Good broadband connections are vital, particularly for businesses that need fast connections to stay competitive. 

“I’m delighted with the work Fibrus has done to bring the benefits of full-fibre broadband to Workington and I’m proud that the Government’s Project Gigabit initiative will enable Fibrus to connect many rural parts of the constituency that would otherwise miss out.” 

Fibrus is still laying cable in Workington and also currently in Aspatria, Kendal and Penrith. 

It will start work in another 15 towns and villages in Cumbria in the first half of 2024 including Great Broughton, Cockermouth, Keswick, Distington, Whitehaven, St Bees, Windermere and Flookburgh. 

The company has hosted events in 11 communities to explain its work, responded to more than 300 enquiries and launched an apprentice training facility at Newton Rigg, Penrith, where 16 apprentices have completed training and another 74 will be trained by 2026. 

Fibrus is also providing £212,000 to support community projects over the life of the Project Gigabit contract. 

During 2023 it began a partnership with Workington Town’s, sponsoring both the mens’ and ladies’ teams who both play at the renamed Fibrus Community Stadium. 

It has sponsored the Fibrus 100 girls’ cricket league, provided a fund for grassroots boys’ and girls’ sports clubs and helped to tackle digital poverty with a £60,000 fund for community groups . 

Find out more about the Project Gigabit rollout at www.hyperfastgb.com, or check if you’re already connectable at www.fibrus.com.