The first Project Gigabit customers have been connected in Hampshire.
The rollout by CityFibre, the UK's largest independent full fibre network, was made possible by £104m from the Government's Project Gigabit.
This funding will allow CityFibre to connect more than 75,000 homes and businesses in the area.
CityFibre is also investing its own money in the project to bring gigabit-capable broadband to even more people.
It targets parts of the UK that might otherwise miss out on upgrades to next-generation speeds.
More than 1.3 million homes and businesses stand to benefit from CityFibre’s Project Gigabit rollout over the next five years.
This is part of the company’s commitment to reach more than eight million premises nationwide.
One of the first to be connected in Hampshire is Ray Rowsell, a resident from Hayling Island.
Mr Rowsell experienced numerous issues and dropouts with his previous internet service provider, which prompted him to switch to full fibre at the first opportunity.
He said: "I was already aware of the advantages of full fibre, and anything had to be better than my existing old-school copper installation, which would badly impact video calls and conferencing.
"So it was a speedy decision."
Mr Rowsell opted for toob’s full fibre service on CityFibre’s network.
With symmetrical speeds of 900Mbps, he experienced a huge jump in speed and reliability compared to his previous connection, which achieved just over 22Mbps in download speed.
He said: "It's been a non-event, everything works, it's very quick and no more dropouts."
Telecoms Minister Chris Bryant said: "Communities across remote parts of Hampshire will soon see the back of connectivity drop-outs and constant buffering with this installation of lightning-fast broadband.
"We recently launched our Digital Inclusion Action Plan, setting out our next steps to shrink the digital gap.
"Today’s news is a fantastic example of how a Government-backed contract will help ensure people in rural areas are not left behind and have the tools they need to work and thrive in the digital age."
Simon Holden, group chief operations officer at CityFibre, said: "Reliable, high-speed broadband is more than just a convenience, it’s a necessity for work, education and everyday life.
"Thanks to this investment from Project Gigabit, Hampshire is set to reap the benefits of full fibre and unlock better opportunities for residents and businesses."
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