Wessex Internet Start Project Gigabit Broadband Build in Dorset and Somerset UK

Rural UK broadband ISP Wessex Internet has today announced that they’ve begun the build phase of their new £33.5m state aid supported Project Gigabit contract in Dorset and South Somerset (Lot 14), which will extend their gigabit speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to cover 21,400 hard-to-reach local homes and businesses.

With the design and planning stage of this 5-year contract, awarded in April 2024 (here), now completed, construction has finally kicked off in Halstock (Dorset), with engineers laying the first fibre optic cables to serve remote rural areas.

In Dorset, the build will later extend to rural communities surrounding Swanage, Dorchester, Sherborne, and Beaminster. Meanwhile, the South Somerset rollout will reach rural areas close to Crewkerne and Ilminster along its western boundary, with Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet and Bruton on its north-eastern edge.

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.

Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

“Dorset and Somerset are the latest regions to see spades in the ground, laying fibre that will deliver the fastest internet speeds on the market – thanks to our nationwide rollout of Project Gigabit.

The upgrades will help put an end to buffering broadband in hard-to-reach rural communities and support our mission to kickstart economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity. We are on track to keep plugging digital gaps and achieve nationwide gigabit coverage by 2030.”

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO of Wessex Internet, said:

“We’re delighted to have started the construction phase our fourth Project Gigabit contract, which will benefit thousands of residents and businesses in rural Dorset and Somerset.

This follows the start of construction for our South Wiltshire contract a few weeks ago and demonstrates the commitment and hard work of our teams to rapidly progress the delivery of these vital infrastructure projects.

For too long, rural communities have had to make do with outdated, unreliable internet connections, and this rollout of full fibre broadband represents a great leap in digital infrastructure that will support local residents and rural economies for years to come.”

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).