Successful roll out of full fibre broadband to over 4,000 rural homes and businesses

Over 4,000 homes and businesses in South Somerset can now access full fibre broadband thanks to a successful partnership between rural broadband specialist Wessex Internet and Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS).

Wessex Internet has delivered a critical full fibre broadband connection to 4,190 hard-to-reach rural homes and businesses, through its contract with CDS. With the network build commencing in May 2021 and an additional 1,100 properties being added to the contract in June 2022, Wessex Internet successfully completed the roll out by January 2026.

Residents across rural South Somerset including the communities of Compton Dundon and Alford are now able to access a reliable, gigabit capable broadband connection – this supports modern homes and local businesses, including Quantock Wines and the Red Lion pub in Babcary. And, as part of Wessex Internet’s Community Hubs initiative, 22 community organisations and charities in South Somerset are now connected with ultrafast full fibre broadband for just £1 per month.

Among those connected through the CDS-funded rollout by Wessex Internet is Jonathan and Anwen Hoskyns who run the popular farm shop at North Perrott Fruit Farm. Jonathan, who is also a Parish Councillor, has long been involved in the village’s campaign for better broadband, as North Perrott struggled with slow and unreliable internet for years.

He recalls: “We were forever balancing our internet over two copper lines just to get something workable. I’d be on the phone to the provider once a month, sometimes more, trying to get it sorted. We’d been waiting for fibre for years. Wessex did the job ten times quicker than anyone else and really got on with it.”

Fast, reliable broadband isn’t just helping the Hoskyns family run their rural business efficiently, but Jonathan says the improvement has also transformed life in the wider community.

“It’s been astonishing, the parish council used to be full of complaints about the internet, but those have completely disappeared,” he says. “Underneath, there’s a whole new infrastructure, but on the surface, you wouldn’t even know it’s there. What you do notice is that everything just works.”

In total, 1.28 million metres of fibre was installed by Wessex Internet to bring reliable, ultrafast broadband to 85 rural communities and isolated properties; working closely and sensitively with local landowners and farmers to minimise any physical impact of the project.

The build wasn’t without its challenges – while South Somerset is known for its beautiful rolling countryside, its rural nature required an average of 306 metres of fibre per property to be installed using Mole Ploughs – leveraging Wessex Internet’s unique approach to rural delivery.

In addition, Wessex Internet was building the network and connecting properties during unexpected and harsh weather conditions – including facing one of the wettest winters on record for Somerset (2023-24).

Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset County Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development Planning and Assets, and CDS Board Member, said: “Our thanks and congratulations go to Wessex Internet for their work in fulfilling this contract with CDS. Delivering full fibre broadband in hard-to-reach areas is challenging in itself, but Wessex has had to contend with some awful weather extremes during the time they’ve been working on this contract in South Somerset. However, the importance of this work can’t be overstated, and it’s certainly been worth the effort that has been needed. The difference these full fibre connections make is highlighted by the experience of the owners of North Perrott Fruit Farm, and I’m sure that’s echoed by the thousands who have benefited from this new full fibre broadband network.”

Josh Goodchild, Program Manager for Somerset at Wessex Internet, said: “It is an extremely proud moment for Wessex Internet. As a team this project has been a challenge that we have relished and enjoyed completing, facing issues head on and with a determination seldom seen. From our planning team spearheading Wessex Internet’s introduction to landowners and communities; or our build teams working in extremely difficult conditions year-round, this contract was never going to be easy, but the team really strived to deliver full fibre broadband to all contracted premises. Fundamentally, Wessex Internet and CDS share the same goal of ensuring that no community, business or individual household should be left behind due to poor connectivity, and that is why I believe this partnership worked.”

Juliet Mance, Chief Operations Officer of Wessex Internet, said: “Connecting more than 4,000 rural homes and businesses in South Somerset with reliable, gigabit capable broadband is a milestone that truly reflects the dedication of multiple teams across both organisations. Their hard work, resilience and commitment has delivered a project that is already transforming daily life for the communities we serve.

“Communities like Compton Dundon, Babcary and North Perrott have been waiting years for broadband that genuinely supports the way they live and work. Since the network has been live in South Somerset, the response from residents and local businesses shows just how quickly better connectivity can change daily life. Projects like this are exactly why CDS and Wessex Internet exist: to deliver future proof digital infrastructure that strengthens rural communities – because that’s the real measure of success.”