Wessex Internet has reached a key milestone in South Wiltshire, connecting its first customer as part of the £18.8 million Project Gigabit rollout. Zoe Hallett of Bapton is the first to benefit from the full fibre network, which aims to bring ultrafast broadband to 14,500 rural properties.
The rollout spans the Wylye Valley and surrounding villages, delivering Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) speeds of up to 10Gbps. Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant praised the project for driving economic growth and tackling digital exclusion in hard-to-reach areas.
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.”
