Independent broadband provider Wessex Internet has secured a 拢50m investment from the National Wealth Fund (NWF) to expand coverage to 140,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses.
The Dorset-based firm, which specialises in rural connectivity, was originally founded in 2010 to bring connectivity to the founder鈥檚 local village and has since grown into an enterprise which covers Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.
It deploys specialised rural build techniques and works closely with farmers and landowners to lay cables under fields, reducing the need for roadworks and minimising disruption.
The NWF funding is one of the most significant commitments to rural broadband infrastructure announced this year, supporting the company鈥檚 vision to serve hard-to-reach communities in the South West.
In 2022, Wessex Internet became the first provider to win a Project Gigabit contract – a Building Digital UK (BDUK) led government programme enabling hard-to-reach communities to access fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband.聽
The capital raised from NWF combined with 拢72m awarded from BDUK will allow the business to expand its existing network of 40,000 to approximately 137,000 rural premises.
鈥淲e are delighted with the National Wealth Fund鈥檚 decision to support our ongoing growth story,鈥� said Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO of Wessex Internet.
鈥淭his investment will support the scale and pace of Wessex Internet鈥檚 rural network build and enables us to continue delivering high-quality digital infrastructure in areas that have historically faced limited connectivity.聽
鈥淎s many broadband providers scale back, we have continued to grow by focusing on rural, hard-to-reach areas that others overlook.聽
鈥淎s a family-owned business, our focus has always been on ensuring that these regions can access reliable full fibre broadband, which supports local economic development and long-term community needs. Our success is rooted in that purpose.
鈥淓veryone in the business is proud of the huge impact that Wessex Internet has had on the communities we serve – connecting families, strengthening businesses and empowering local organisations.鈥�
Ian Brown, head of banking & investments at NWF, added: 鈥淓very home and business in the UK deserves access to fast, affordable and reliable broadband. Our financing for Wessex Internet will ensure that under-served rural communities聽 will benefit from the continued full-fibre rollout.聽
鈥淭hese are areas where connecting homes and businesses to fast fibre will make the greatest difference, helping to improve connectivity and support local economies.鈥�