Fibrestream hits out at Cumbria broadband technical trials

Fibre optic broadband provider Fibrestream has claimed technical trials in Cumbria proposed by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) are unnecessary.

Writing on the company's official blog, boss Guy Jarvis hit out at plans to plough an additional £400,000 or more that was originally intended to help struggling farming communities into broadband pilot projects.

According to Mr Jarvis, the trials are "wholly unnecessary" and are a wasteful use of valuable public resources.

"The technology to supply super-fast broadband is already fully understood by those experienced in and engaged with actual service delivery," he explained.

Mr Jarvis added the money is set to be spent in areas that have already been covered by private sector broadband rollouts from NextGenUs and other internet service providers.

Cumbria was named as one of the first counties to receive cash from BDUK's £530 million funding pot, which was generated via the BBC licence fee.

Other recipients in the first round of funding were Herefordshire, North Yorkshire and the Highlands and Islands.