Dorset’s own Wessex Internet has hit a major milestone with the connection of its 10,000th broadband customer.

Dan Phillips from Bisterne, Hampshire won 10 years’ free gigabit broadband as part of the company’s celebrations.

This latest milestone puts Wessex Internet on track for 60 per cent customer growth this year, with 30,000 properties ready for its gigabit service.

The company focuses on delivering network to hard-to-reach communities across Dorset, South Somerset, Wiltshire and the New Forest.

It also oversees four contracts worth £71 million through the government’s Project Gigabit to deliver full fibre broadband to over 53,000 properties in the next four years.

CEO Hector Gibson Fleming said: “We’re thrilled to welcome our 10,000th customer to Wessex Internet.

“We’re passionately focussed on expanding our services to places where we deliver real social value, and working with our Project Gigabit contracts is enabling us to do that faster and more consistently than ever before.

“We’ve never aimed to be the biggest business in the industry, but we understand our rural niche, and 2024 has been an incredible year so far.

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of everyone in our team we’re installing more customers than ever before.

“Having hit this milestone, we’re now just looking forward to the next 10,000!”

Dan, the lucky customer, added: “As a director of a tech business and with my wife frequently teaching online, we’re delighted to now have an ultrafast broadband connection.

“It will make a massive difference to our businesses.

“We’re excited that our installation has made us the company’s 10,000th customer – particularly as Sen, the installation engineer, did such a good job despite having two puppies trying to assist him.

“Congratulations Wessex Internet on reaching this milestone!”

• wessexinternet.com