Wessex Internet has connected its first customer in South Wiltshire as part of an £18.8 million contract awarded by Project Gigabit, bringing faster broadband to around 14,500 residents across the region.
A further 1,110 homes and businesses in south Somerset will receive fibre access due to extra funding secured by Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS).
The contract is being delivered by Wessex Internet which will extend its network to connect the areas of Isle Abbotts, Bower Hinton, Yeabridge, South Petherton and Tintinhull, taking the total premises passed to over 4,700.
Initial planning for these additional properties is underway and a community engagement programme will be rolled out to ensure that residents are informed of the plans.
The first homes were connected last year in North Cadbury and work continues in Hardington Mandeville, Chilthorne Domer, Ashington, Mudford, Yeovil Marsh, Odcombe, and East and West Coker.
Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO Wessex Internet, said: “We will now extend our reach to the western part of south Somerset where there is a demand for a fast, efficient broadband connection."