Dorset & South Somerset to get next gen broadband

Wessex Internet has won a major government contract to deliver lightning-fast broadband to 21,400 homes and businesses in rural areas of South and West Dorset, and South Somerset.

The contract – worth £33.5 million – was signed as part of Project Gigabit, the government’s £5 billion mission to upgrade digital connectivity in hard-to-reach areas of the country that would otherwise be left without the economic and lifestyle benefits provided by ultrafast broadband.

This is the fourth Project Gigabit contract awarded to Wessex Internet, and the company’s largest to date, closely following the announcement in March that the Dorset-based broadband supplier would also be delivering the £18.8m Project Gigabit roll-out for the South Wiltshire area.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:

“Outdated infrastructure not only hampers economic growth for businesses and communities but also detracts from people’s quality of life. Essential tasks such as online medical appointments or business meetings shouldn't be hindered by slow speeds and unreliable service.

“Thanks to our £5 billion Project Gigabit rollout, many rural areas in Dorset and South Somerset will have access to top-of-the-range connections and can unlock more opportunities in the digital economy.”

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO at Wessex Internet, said:

“We’re passionate about connecting rural communities to ultrafast broadband, making sure that people and businesses in the countryside are not held back by decades-old technology. From the first connections we provided to friends and neighbours in 2012, to now being awarded our largest government contract to date, we remain true to these core values.

“Everyone at Wessex Internet is excited we will be extending our service to thousands more people living and working in the new Dorset and South Somerset Project Gigabit area. While this is a large geographical area, it also represents an organic expansion of our existing network. This will allow us to retain the friendly local service that matters so much to our customers, to continue working in partnership with rural communities in our network build, and to provide fulfilling employment opportunities for local people.”

Planning for the network expansion is already underway, with construction expected to start towards the end of 2024. In Dorset, the new contract includes villages and hamlets around Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck, and rural communities near to Dorchester, Sherborne and Beaminster. In South Somerset, it encompasses rural areas close to Crewkerne and Ilminster along its western boundary, with Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet and Bruton on its north-eastern edge.

All properties will benefit from full fibre connections, also known as Fibre to the Premise (FTTP), which means that a fibre optic cable goes all the way to a home or business, rather than stopping at a cabinet down the road. This delivers connection speeds of up to 10Gbps, with far superior speeds and reliability compared to existing copper wiring.

Residents who want to find out if Wessex Internet is coming to their area can use an online coverage checker at www.wessexinternet.com or call 0333 240 7997.