First Customer Live on Project Gigabit Broadband Network in South Wiltshire UK

Rural ISP Wessex Internet has announced that they’ve connected their first customer to a new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network, which they’ve been building as part of their £18.8m Project Gigabit (Lot 30) contract for South Wiltshire (England). This aims to cover “around” 14,500 hard-to-reach premises in the area.

Zoe Hallett from Bapton is the first to benefit, although the roll-out will see the provider expanding their existing full fibre network across more of the Wylye Valley, going through the Salisbury Plain, connecting villages surrounding Amesbury, and going as far north as Chisbury and Little Bedwyn. The first communities being connected are Stapleford, Wylye and Bapton.

The original LOT 30 contract for South Wiltshire was awarded by the government (Building Digital UK) in March 2024 and is due to be delivered over the next 5-years (by around 2029). So far, their deployment appears to be going as scheduled.

The provider recently revealed that their gigabit broadband network had already covered 30,000 UK properties (Ready for Service), including 10,000 customers connected (here). But the new Project Gigabit contracts will significantly increase their current level of network coverage and add a total of 53,000 properties over the next few years.

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.”

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.”

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. Not cheap, but then they’re often the only FTTP choice in a lot of their locations (rural areas cost more to serve).