Belfast-based Fibrus Networks has won a £34.6 million UK government-funded Project Gigabit contract to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to more than 9,000 rural homes and businesses across Northern Ireland, with work starting immediately.

The rollout is aimed at hard-to-reach communities that have struggled to access fast, reliable connectivity.

It also builds on the firm’s previous involvement in Project Stratum, which extended high-speed broadband to 81,000 premises across Northern Ireland.