Another broadband provider is pledging to supply "ultra fast and reliable" internet connection speeds to Kent as part of a major investment.

Openreach has revealed it will bolster 26 of its exchanges across the county over the next five years.

The firm, which is a division of BT, says its plan will be fundamental to the government achieving its target of delivering "gigabit-capable broadband" to 85% of UK by 2025.

In total, 50,000 homes and businesses in Kent are set to benefit from the full fibre technology.

The full list of locations to benefit from the upgrades is as follows:

• Allhallows
• Langton
• Sevington
• Ash
• Lenham
• Shepherdswell
• Boughton
• Leysdown
• St Margaret's Bay
• Chestfield
• Loose
• Sturry
• Cliffe
• Lyminge
• Teynham
• Eastchurch
• Minster Thanet
• Westerham
• Fairseat
• Newington
• Wingham
• Hawkinge
• Nonington
• Wye

Kieran Wines, Openreach’s regional director for the south east, said: “Building a new ultrafast broadband network across the south east is a massive challenge and some parts of the region will inevitably require public funding.

"But our expanded build plan means taxpayer subsidies can be limited to only the hardest to connect homes and businesses. And with investments from other network builders, we’d hope to see that shrink further.

“This is a hugely complex, nationwide engineering project – second only to HS2 in terms of investment.

"It will help level-up the UK because the impact of full fibre broadband stretches from increased economic prosperity and international competitiveness, to higher employment and environmental benefits.

"We’re also delighted to continue bucking the national trend by creating more jobs in the region, with apprentices joining in their droves to start their careers as engineers."

As part of the nationwide project to boost connection speeds in rural locations, 1,000 extra jobs are being created.

The full-fibre networks will provide equal upload and download speeds of gigabit services up to 10 Gbps (10,000 Mbps) - which is 10 times faster than the average home broadband connection.

Openreach's announcement comes after Netomnia pledged to boost broadband speeds for 90,000 homes and businesses in Canterbury and Ashford.