New Forest goes full fibre as Wessex Internet prepares to connect thousands of rural properties

Thousands of homes and businesses will soon be saying goodbye to dodgy connections and interminable uploads as high-speed full fibre broadband arrives in the New Forest.

As part of Project Gigabit, the government has awarded Wessex Internet a three-year, £14 million contract to begin connecting up the region.

Brockenhurst, Burley, Beaulieu, Godshill, Hordle and Sway will all be treated to faster speeds and improved reliability as the fibre network is rolled out across the New Forest and surrounding areas.

Wessex Internet plans to collaborate closely with Forestry England to navigate sensitive land in the region, as well as the Verderers of the New Forest.

The company expects work to begin by the end of this year, with the first properties connected as early as February 2024.

Credit: Wessex Internet

CEO Hector Gibson Fleming said: “This is great news for homes and businesses in the New Forest who will be able to access world-class connectivity and the many economic and social benefits it provides.

“We will now work closely with the residents and communities across this beautiful national park to deliver this exciting programme.

“We’re delighted to be awarded our second contract under Project Gigabit. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and their strong track record of rolling out gigabit-capable connectivity to even the hardest to reach countryside communities.”

Project Gigabit represents a £5 billion government investment as it aims to provide lightning-fast broadband in some of the UK’s most remote communities.

“Thousands of hard-to-reach homes and businesses will benefit from a state-of-the-art network”

It isn’t just households that are set to benefit from the scheme – businesses can improve their productivity, while public services will become more accessible to residents.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez added: “Thanks to this latest multi-million pound contract for the New Forest, thousands of hard-to-reach homes and businesses in this stunning area will benefit from a state-of-the-art network ready to provide the speed and reliability we will all need in the decades ahead.

“The Prime Minister has put growing the economy as one of his five top priorities, and this investment will go far in delivering on that mission here in the New Forest by equipping rural areas with the infrastructure they need for the digital age.”