Wessex Internet breaks ground on South Somerset FTTP rollout
Wessex Internet has broken ground on its project to deliver FTTP broadband to thousands of premises across South Somerset. Work began with the laying of the first fibre cable in the village of Woolston near North Cadbury.
The three-year programme form part of the Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) project and is being supported by public investment of around £4.7 million. The rollout will eventually cover more than 3,600 premises in rural areas of South Somerset.
The rollout will proceed through 6 phases, with the first phase covering the areas of Woolston, North and South Barrow and Sparkford. Wessex Internet says that details of the phases, including timings, locations and properties, will be announced later this month.
Wessex Internet CEO Hector Gibson Fleming commented: “We are excited to announce the start of work that will bring ultrafast full fibre connectivity to the most remote parts of South Somerset.”
“We believe that people living outside towns and cities have the same right to a speedy, efficient internet connection and we look forward to working with local communities on this exciting programme.”
“In Woolston, we know that residents are struggling with typical speeds of less than 20 Mbps, which is not acceptable, and we are here to change this.”
CDS Board Member Councillor David Hall said: “We’re delighted that Wessex Internet has started the rollout of Gigabit capable fibre in South Somerset, on behalf of Connecting Devon and Somerset.”
“Over the next three years they will be delivering access to fibre broadband to some of the hardest to reach premises in the region, giving our local residents and businesses the future-proof internet connection they need.”
Karl Tucker, Chair of the Heart of South West Local Enterprise Partnership (SW LEP), one of the organisations funding the CDS programme, added: “I am delighted to see this three-year programme getting underway that will bring much needed ultrafast broadband to south Somerset.”
“This rollout, which is supported with funding from the HotSW LEP’s Growth Deal, will provide vital internet connectivity for residents and businesses in some of our most rural communities which is essential to allow these areas to increase their economic productivity and output.”
