MP says BT should not be handed £24m for Cumbrian fibre broadband

BT should not be handed £24 million to roll out fibre optic broadband in Cumbria, according to Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron.

Fujitsu last week announced it had pulled out of the bidding process to land the county's super-fast broadband contract, leaving BT as the last remaining applicant.

However, Mr Farron told Computerworld UK it is important that the county council fully considers how best to spend its £24 million government allocation, rather than automatically awarding the full amount to BT.

"What I have called upon them to do is use the money intelligently," he explained. "Don't just think you have to have a big contract deal with one company."

Instead, a "whole bunch" of smaller schemes could be created if the local authority partners with organisations such as Network Rail, Mr Farron claimed.

Explaining its decision to exit the process in Cumbria, Fujitsu said it could not see the "clear path" towards the mass market that is required for major providers to support the project.