Northern Ireland full fibre broadband provider Fibrus has been awarded a landmark government contract.

The firm secured a £108 million contract to connect thousands of rural premises as part of a major investment project.

Around 60,000 premises in Cumbria will benefit from the fastest broadband on the market thanks to the record-breaking deal with Fibrus, which represents the biggest contract to date under the government's audacious programme.

Project Gigabit is the most extensive broadband roll-out in UK history, backed with £5 billion to deliver faster connections to hard-to-reach areas that would otherwise have missed out.

Speaking about the Belfast-based company's contract win, Fibrus Chief Executive Dominic Kearns said: "This is further validation of the Fibrus model.

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"At Fibrus we are committed to bringing the benefits of full fibre to those who need it most. 

"Winning this contract to connect Cumbria extends the Fibrus investment plan to 700,000 homes and £700m – and sets us on the road to being central to national digital infrastructure.

"Fibrus has already created over 350 jobs and will invest over £500m in their mission to transform the digital infrastructure by bringing hyperfast, full fibre broadband to rural homes and businesses in towns and villages across the UK."

To date, 210,000 homes have been passed across Northern Ireland and Cumbria, with Fibrus on target to pass 250,000 homes by March 2023.

Installation work is already underway in Cumbria.

It comes as the firm recently unveiled over half of the 85,000 Northern Ireland premises scheduled for improved broadband access under Project Stratum, in predominantly rural areas, can now connect to gigabit capable broadband.

In a huge boost for jobs and skills for Cumbria, Fibrus has committed to creating at least 90 apprenticeships following the government investment. These will cover a range of roles, from underground and overhead cabling to surveying, and Fibrus has also committed to establish an apprentice training academy at Newton Rigg near Penrith.