Fujitsu confirms it is still in the fight to supply Cumbrian broadband

Last updated at 17:19, Monday, 18 June 2012

Japanese technology giant Fujitsu says it’s still in the fight to supply superfast broadband across Cumbria.

Last week Cumbria County Council surprised industry observers by rejecting bids from Fujitsu and BT for a £40 million contract to supply broadband.

The council’s cabinet had been due to pick one of the two telecommunications giants, but decided that the tenders submitted would not have been capable of realising their ambition to have 90 per cent of Cumbrian homes and businesses with broadband speeds of 25Mbps by 2015.

Now Fujitsu has confirmed that it will not be deterred and will participate in negotiations when they re-open.

A spokesman said: “This is an unexpected outcome, and we are currently reviewing our options. We remain focused on this and other next-generation broadband projects.”

BT had already confirmed that it would still try to win the contact, saying: “We will continue to work with the council as we are keen to win what is a highly contested tender.”

Negotiations with the two final bidders will be re-opened and the council wants to consider an improved offer when it meets in September.

The council’s decision has prompted widespread comment – not least on our website where opinion has been divided between those critical of the authority for yet another delay and those

One reader posted a comment to say: “Yet another disaster waiting to happen in this great county, the energy industry want to make the West Coast of Cumbria a world leader which would in turn benefit the rest of the county. In plain English, stop the bickering and choose a provider before any or all of the money is withdrawn.”

But the council had plenty of defenders with one reader saying: “If we intend to spend many millions of pounds of public money on a countywide infrastructure (and note, not just Carlisle), councillors have a duty to get it right.”

The council has also been described as “brave” by the Guardian in its article on the delay.

It is understand that last week’s decision reflects deep frustration at the council and the suppliers on the failure to reach a deal.

One councillor told in-cumbria.com: “We feel let down,” adding that the questions had been raised about ability of the suppliers to deliver on the promises made in the tender submission.

First published at 17:13, Monday, 18 June 2012
Published by http://www.in-cumbria.com

Have your say

Marraman, I am afraid it is you who speaks nonsense on this matter. You would be wise to read TB's more considered reaction.

It is simply impossible for "experts" to make all decisions. And even if it was possible, which experts do we choose? Are you sufficiently naive to believe that experts would all recommend the same solution? If life was that simple, we would know the one true answer to current economic woes. Sadly, however, expert economists differ enormously in their expert opinions.

So, in a democracy, we elect some of our peers and vest in them authority to act on our behalves and on the basis of appropriate advice.

You may believe such a system to be inefficient, but your suggests on expert governance betray huge misunderstanding and a rather shallow appreciation of the position.

Posted by Dave on 21 June 2012 at 17:30

And what is your point James? We are using existing infrastructure here. We are living with the legacies of decisions many many decades ago. Which were right at the time but now represent difficulties in scaling up.

South Korea is very different. Thirty years ago it's most advanced areas were us fifty years ago, and in their worst places, were us in the seventeenth century.

Almost all their recent development has been new from the ground up. There is no legacy, like here.

It is cheaper to do it new, especially in areas in which labour is cheap, than it is here which laying new technology on top of old infrastructure.

The exchange in Carlisle is just off Botchergate. It is there for no purpose that suits the modern world except it was the old GPO exchange building after the war.

Much of the infrastructure is based on 'it's always been there'.

Many people are using copper wires that were put up in the late sixties. The *same* cable, often in older houses the extension cable can be pre sixties.

In the UK we get an amazing job done by BT openreach (bt retail are another case) who maintain the lines and carry out the investment. We probably have some of the best competition and prices in the west.

It is frustrating when you live in a rural area or any area that is outside of the 4km-5km from the exchange sweet spot for broadband.

Posted by TB on 20 June 2012 at 13:20

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