A Cumbrian broadband provider is celebrating its latest triumph after beating BT on reliability. 

Solway Communications’ 500 Carlisle business customers managed to avoid an outage that hit BT customers this week. (Tues) 

The firm’s broadband technology means that it is ultra-reliable, and it was dubbed the ‘waterproof broadband company’ after its flood-hit customers were still able to access the internet. 

The Thurstonfield-based firm uses wireless connections, rather than the traditional copper wires, improving reliability and meaning that speeds don’t deteriorate rather than slowing down the further down the wire you go. Businesses on the BT Openreach broadband and leased line networks were suddenly cut off for several hours on Tuesday. 

Nicholas Kittoe, Solway Communications managing director, said: “We set out to make Carlisle the best connected city in the UK when we added 21st century telecoms to its excellent road, rail and air links. 

“It is satisfying to see our resilient network rising to the challenges of today’s world. We are just pleased to help develop our great city.” 

Solway has several transmission towers around Cumbria, and provides a purely local service from Maryport to Brampton.