First customer for Project Gigabit South Wiltshire

A new era of ultrafast broadband is underway in South Wiltshire, as internet service provider Wessex Internet connects its first customer as part of the Government’s Project Gigabit in South Wiltshire.

Zoe Hallett from Bapton is the first to benefit from a full fibre broadband connection as part of the £18.8 million contract awarded to Wessex Internet to bring gigabit-capable broadband to around 14,500 rural homes and businesses across South Wiltshire.

Project Gigabit aims to deliver lightning-fast broadband to hard-to-reach communities. It’s the Government’s programme aimed at equipping the nation with the cutting-edge broadband infrastructure needed to meet people’s needs not just today, but for decades to come.

This rollout in South Wiltshire will expand the Wessex Internet network across the Wylye Valley and beyond, including the Salisbury Plains area and villages surrounding Amesbury.

Once complete, it will provide some of the fastest, most reliable connections available, bringing rural communities into the digital fast lane.

The full fibre infrastructure, also known as Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), reaches directly into homes and businesses rather than stopping at a nearby cabinet, delivering speeds of up to 10Gbps. This is a game-changer for rural families that need fast connectivity for work, study, entertainment and accessing public services, as well as supporting the economy across South Wiltshire by improving connectivity for businesses.

Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

“Project Gigabit is all about giving people the infrastructure they need not only to live, but to thrive in the place they call home – no matter how rural or isolated.

"These connections will make a significant difference to thousands of families and individuals, who will find it easier to stay in touch with loved ones and speak to their GPs on video call.

“Plugging connectivity black holes in hard-to-reach areas isn’t only helping this government achieve its mission to kickstart economic growth, but is also allowing us tackle digital exclusion, something which continues to hold back far too many communities across the UK."

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO at Wessex Internet said:

“We’re excited to welcome the first South Wiltshire residents to our network under Project Gigabit. This is just the beginning of an important upgrade that will impact thousands of homes and businesses, empowering them with reliable, full fibre broadband.”

This connection milestone in South Wiltshire follows Wessex Internet commencing build for its fourth Project Gigabit contract in Dorset and South Somerset a few weeks ago. In total the company has been awarded four Project Gigabit contracts across Dorset, South Somerset, South Wiltshire and the New Forest to connect more than 53,000 properties.