Digital Durham has passed the halfway mark in the first phase of its fibre broadband rollout with more than 58,000 homes and businesses now able to connect to the high-speed technology as a result of the programme.

A total of 30 new exchange areas have been enabled along with the installation of more than 260 new green fibre cabinets. The initiative is progressing at pace and is expected to reach a total of 63,500 premises by the end of June 2015.

A second phase is already being planned which will see a further £9 million invested in the programme area and extend superfast broadband coverage further.