Full fibre broadband coming to Fivehead Parish
In April 2024, Wessex Internet was awarded a new contract under the UK government’s Project Gigabit programme, to enable hard-to-reach communities to access gigabit-capable broadband. This contract will put around 21,400 properties in South and West Dorset and South Somerset in the digital fast lane.
Thanks to this Project Gigabit funding, a number of properties in Fivehead will be given access to gigabit-capable full fibre broadband direct to their home or business premises and be eligible for a free installation from Wessex Internet.
In addition, there are commercial plans to roll out full fibre to many additional properties in the area that were not included in the contract. The Fivehead project includes a total of 279 properties which will be provisioned with a full fibre connection, which Wessex Internet are hoping to deliver in Autumn 2025, subject to delays.
The Project Gigabit contract is a five-year contract. Since awarded the contract in April 2024, Wessex Internet have been working on the scoping and planning of their fibre routes and have commenced network build in September 2024. In Dorset, the contract includes villages and hamlets around Swanage, and rural communities near to Dorchester. In South Somerset, it encompasses rural areas close to Crewkerne along its western boundary, and near Glastonbury on its north-eastern edge.
For those who are not aware of who Wessex Internet are, they are a local internet service provider based in North Dorset, specialising in connecting local communities to fast and reliable broadband. They will be contacting residents about the roll-out plans shortly.
In the meantime, further information can be found at wessexinternet.com, where you can also register your interest in being connected; or if you have any queries, you can email Regional Engagement Manager, Paul Cleary: paul.cleary@wessexinternet.com