A BT Group managing director has visited a tiny Cumbrian village and told businesses and residents the firm is “far from finished” in the county.

Bill Murphy, one of the communications giant’s most prominent directors, was at Watermillock Village Hall on Friday.


He spoke directly to local Ullswater communities about the options for delivering superfast broadband to the outlying properties and businesses in the various parishes around the lake.

Mr Murphy, MD of next generation access at BT, said: "We're far from finished in Cumbria. As long as you, the community, is prepared to do the work, so are we; we will keep chipping away until we deliver in this area."

Joining Bill was Libby Bateman, who led the Fell End 'build and benefit' rural broadband model, a 15-kilometre network of fibre-to-the-home connecting 58 rural properties, including 24 businesses.

The event was organised by MP for Penrith and the Borders, Rory Stewart, a committed campaigner for faster broadband in his constituency.

Mr Stewart the meeting by thanking the local parishes for organising the substantial turnout of close to one hundred people, and thanked Bill Murphy for travelling to Cumbria to reinforce his commitment to delivering results in difficult remote areas.

He said: "We are very, very lucky to have the managing director of BT here today, highlighting how important it is to continue driving superfast broadband as wide and as deep as we possibly can.

“Broadband delivery in Cumbria varies from area to area, and it is important to learn from other models that might have valuable learning for how to bring fast speeds to Ullswater, and tailor the programme to the area.

“It is brilliant to see such committed communities represented here today: half the battle is harnessing community energy, and bringing that energy together with government and the private sector to bring broadband to every home and business."