Fujitsu still in the running for Cumbria broadband contract

Fujitsu has insisted it is still in the running to deliver Cumbria's super-fast broadband strategy, despite having its original plan for the project rejected by the county council.

The local authority last week discarded proposals from Fujitsu and BT for its £40 million broadband contract, declaring that neither bid would have realised its ambition to extend next-generation broadband to 90 per cent of Cumbria by 2015.

As a result, negotiations between Cumbria County Council and the two telecoms firms will reopen, with the administration keen to consider improved proposals when it meets in September.

Despite the project proving more challenging than it may initially have anticipated, Fujitsu has stressed it is still interested in securing the contract.

"This is an unexpected outcome and we are currently reviewing our options," a spokesman admitted.

"We remain focused on this and other next-generation broadband projects."

Ofcom's latest figures on broadband access show a complete lack of super-fast services in Cumbria, although BT announced in May that Penrith had become the first part of the county to gain access to the technology.

More than 7,800 homes and businesses in the town will be connected to fibre optic broadband when the work is finished.