Rural homes and businesses across Britain are set to receive a broadband boost through new government investment.

Around 312,000 premises will get access to gigabit-capable broadband, with Wales benefitting for the first time.

The UK government said mid and south-east Wales would benefit at first, whilst north and south-west Wales were "expected to benefit" from future contracts

Project Gigiabit aims to make lightning-fast broadband accessible to the whole of the UK by 2030.

The latest phase of the programme will also involve a deal with telecoms provider Openreach, BBC News reports.

Contracts worth £288 million have already been signed for the firm to connect nearly 97,000 homes and businesses in England and Wales.

Meanwhile, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said talks were under way to agree further contracts to connect more premises across England, Scotland and Wales.

Rollout has 'clearly not happened fast enough'

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle expressed how the broadband scheme had "overlooked too many areas, especially in Scotland and Wales" and that it had "clearly not happened fast enough".

He said: “We are fixing this by delivering for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses up and down the country, focusing on the areas that were not prioritised by the previous government, such as Wales.

“Today marks a significant milestone in delivering on our promise to redouble our efforts to achieve full gigabit coverage by 2030 and lay the foundations for a more inclusive, dynamic and prosperous future for all citizens.”

Project Gigabit was originally launched under the previous Conservative government, but Labour said this new wave of programming marks a renewed push in the scheme from Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

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Digital Infrastructure Minister Sir Chris Bryant, the MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, said the new deal with Openreach "will make a real difference to communities".

Conservative shadow science secretary Andrew Griffith said: "Over 80% of Britain now has access to the very fastest internet thanks to the last Conservative government's £5bn investment in Project Gigabit, making it easier for millions of families to work and play online.

"Whilst it is good news that Labour is carrying on with the progress we made, we will work to hold them to account to ensure they do not recreate the digital divide they oversaw in Wales."