Full-fibre broadband will be rolled out to 21,000 extra homes and businesses in rural Cumbria.
Fibrus has announced its contract has been extended under Project Gigabit, which it was initially awarded in 2022 for 32,000 properties.
Today this has been extended to cover the additional premises that would otherwise be left out of any rollout plans.
Once this is delivered alongside other commercial plans, it means that 99% of homes and businesses in Cumbria should have access to next generation broadband, Fibrus said.
Project Gigabit in Cumbria is making good progress, with premises already connected in locations including Workington, Aspatria, Kendal and Penrith.
The latest agreement will bring access to fast reliable broadband to hard-to-reach communities like Leece, Threlkeld, Abbeytown and Slack Head.
Dominic Kearns, chief executive officer at Fibrus, said: “I am proud of the transformational impact we have had on digital infrastructure in Northern Ireland and Cumbria.
“We have been delivering full fibre broadband to some of the most challenging geographies and rural areas, ensuring no one gets left behind by the digital divide.
“Our internal build team and our partners have demonstrated market leading expertise in rural delivery through our Stratum project and now the Project Gigabit Cumbria build.
“Being awarded this contract extension is a testament to the moves we have made so far, and we’re only just getting started.”
Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “Better broadband will not only enhance the quality of life for tens of thousands of homes and businesses across rural Cumbria, but it will also help us put an end to disparities between urban and rural areas.
“Only last month, we launched our Digital Inclusion Action Plan, setting out our next steps to shrink the digital gap. This announcement is a fantastic example of how a Government-backed contract will help ensure people in rural areas are not left behind and have the tools they need to thrive in the digital age.”
