Telecom giant BT Group is to recruit over 40 apprentices and graduates after announcing it is investing £20million in a major expansion of its broadband services in Northern Ireland.

The investment will see a further 140,000 premises gain access to ultrafast broadband.

Over the next 10 months, BT will recruit 42 apprentices and graduates, who will undertake a variety of roles in designing, planning and building BT's Northern Ireland network.

Mairead Meyer, Managing Director Networks, BT Northern Ireland said: "We're delighted to be investing at this significant level, delivering against our local ambition to futureproof our Northern Ireland infrastructure and rank favourably amongst the best fibre networks in Europe.

"Through our current investment programmes, 25 per cent of homes and businesses in Northern Ireland are scheduled to have access to ultrafast broadband by March 2019.These investments are underpinning Northern Ireland's internet economy and society, and bringing an online experience like never before to consumers and organisations."

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone said: "This infrastructure is vital to developing our local economy, particularly in rural areas we need to ensure efforts are made to address issues of isolation and poor connectivity.

"With this news, comes the announcement that BT will recruit additional apprentices and graduates. The news that up to 42 roles will brought forward to deliver BT's Northern Ireland network is fantastic. I'm delighted that BT plan to begin the recruitment process this month.

"We need to keep building and working with business partners to deliver more investment into our local economy. I'll be meeting with BT to get more details on the roll out of this investment scheme."

Sinn Féin infrastructure spokesperson Philip McGuigan also called for additional investment in the future to ensure regional balance for access to broadband in rural areas and West of the Bann.

"The investment of £20 million will see 25 per cent of homes and businesses in the North scheduled to have access to ultrafast broadband by March 2019," Mr McGuigan said.

"This investment is significant and will help to further future proof the North's internet economy and society, infrastructure and will see it rank favourably among the best fibre networks in Europe.

"Roll-out of this latest phase of network will begin immediately and run until March 2019."

(CD)