Devon and Somerset Update on Wessex Internet’s Full Fibre Build

After a long period of silence, the state aid funded Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) programme has finally issued a new progress update on their contract with UK broadband ISP Wessex Internet, which has been tasked with rolling out a new gigabit-capable full fibre (FTTP) network across some rural parts of the region.

Just to recap. The Phase 2 CDS contract, which was awarded at the end of 2020 (here) and initially supported by £4.7m of public investment (partly from the Building Digital UK agency), committed Wessex Internet to spending 3 years on a build to expand their full fibre network to cover 3,618 premises in remote rural parts of South Somerset. This was extended in 2022 (here), with an extra £1.7m of public funding, to reach a further 1,110 premises (total of around 4,700).

Some of the locations that have already benefitted from this roll-out include Alford, Ashington, Babcary, Cary Fitzpaine, Charlton Mackrell, Closworth, Corton Denham, Hadspen, Hardington Mandeville, Limington, Lovington, Marston Magna, Milborne Wick, Mudford Sock, North and South Barrow, Sutton Montis, Woolston, and Yeovil Marsh.

The latest update notes that the provider has now covered more than 3,000 premises in South Somerset and appears to be aiming to reach the slightly lower target of 4,400+ premises (over time build contracts can sometimes shrink, such as due to expanded commercial projects by rivals and other changes). Work is now focused on parts of Chilthorne Domer, East Coker and Wyke Champflower.

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO at Wessex Internet, said:

“After winter weather challenges, including severe flooding in the lowlands of Somerset, we’re pleased with our rapid recent progress, having completed nearly three-quarters of our ‘Connecting Devon and Somerset’ network build, with planning for all other communities also finished.

Marston Magna is one of the many villages now enjoying ultrafast, reliable broadband, which people often think isn’t possible in their rural communities. We have also provided the village hall with our subsidised £1 per month internet package, so that it remains a future-proofed focal point for local people and all the groups using it.

Building in rural areas is vastly more costly and time consuming than in higher population towns, which is why many villages are overlooked by bigger providers. At Wessex Internet, we always feel a sense of achievement when connecting countryside communities, knowing that we’ve brought local people an internet service they can count on.”

Councillor Richard Wilkins, CDS Board member, said:

“For our rural communities in Somerset, getting connected to fast broadband is vital. CDS is trying to take on the more isolated areas. Wessex Internet and CDS are well on their way to getting rural areas in South Somerset connected and we look forward to the contract being completed.”

Prices for their full fibre packages start at £29 per month for a 100Mbps (15Mbps upload) tier on a 12-month term, but this only comes with a meagre 100GB data allowance (£44 for unlimited), and you’ll have to pay £49 (one-off) for activation. By comparison, their top unlimited usage plan will give 900Mbps (450Mbps upload) for £79 per month, which isn’t cheap but then they’re often the only FTTP choice in a lot of their locations (rural areas cost a lot more to serve too).