The communication giant Verizon has announced that it is to expand its broadband offerings into rural areas of West Virginia.

Currently, many of the more mountainous rural areas of the state do not have access to high-speed internet.

Verizon will work with the nonprofit Connected Nation in order to devise a "comprehensive approach" to distributing broadband across the state.

H Stan Cavendish, Verizon's West Virginia president, said: "Our performance demonstrates that Verizon is genuinely committed to broadband deployment in West Virginia's rural communities.

"Widely available broadband internet access is critical for education, health care, public safety, business competitiveness and community development."

The governor of West Virginia, Joe Manchin III, has promised that all West Virginians will have access to broadband by 2010.

In order for those that live in West Virginia to be on the same level as the rest of the world it is "crucial" that the have broadband, the governor said.

West Virginia is the only state in the US that is entirely in the Appalachian Mountain range.