Wessex Internet Secures £50m Investment to Expand Rural Coverage
Deal News | Jun 23, 2025 | Business Cloud
Wessex Internet, an independent broadband provider based in Dorset, England, has received a significant £50 million investment from the National Wealth Fund (NWF) to advance its mission of expanding broadband access to hard-to-reach rural communities in South West England. Founded in 2010, the company has developed specialized techniques for laying cables in cooperation with local farmers and landowners, thereby minimizing infrastructural disruptions. With additional funding from the government-led Project Gigabit, Wessex Internet plans to expand its network from 40,000 to approximately 137,000 rural premises. This investment underscores the commitment of Wessex Internet to improve digital infrastructure in under-connected areas, as emphasized by CEO Hector Gibson Fleming and Ian Brown, the head of banking & investments at NWF. This initiative is viewed as a critical step in bolstering local economies and providing reliable broadband to areas previously overlooked by major providers.
Sectors
- Telecommunications
- Infrastructure
- Finance
Geography
- United Kingdom – The article involves entities operating within the UK, focusing on providing broadband services to rural communities across parts of South West England, including Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Hampshire.
Industry
- Telecommunications – The article primarily discusses broadband and internet services, focusing on the expansion of digital connectivity to rural areas.
- Infrastructure – The deployment and expansion of broadband networks involve significant infrastructural investment in terms of laying cables and improving connectivity in underserved areas.
- Finance – The article involves significant financial investments from the National Wealth Fund facilitated by financial entities to fund the expansion of the broadband network.
Financials
- £50 million – The amount invested by the National Wealth Fund into Wessex Internet for the expansion of its rural broadband network.
- £72 million – Additional funding awarded from Building Digital UK's Project Gigabit for expanding broadband services.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wessex Internet | Target Company | Company | An independent broadband provider based in Dorset, specializing in expanding connectivity to rural areas across South West England. |
| National Wealth Fund | Investor | Government | A government fund providing significant financial investment to support Wessex Internet’s expansion of broadband services. |
| Building Digital UK (BDUK) | Government Programme | Government | A government initiative providing funding via Project Gigabit to support broadband expansion in hard-to-reach areas. |
| Hector Gibson Fleming | CEO | Person | The CEO of Wessex Internet, leading the company’s expansion efforts in rural broadband connectivity. |
| Ian Brown | Head of Banking & Investments | Person | A representative of the National Wealth Fund, advocating for the investment in Wessex Internet to improve rural connectivity. |