Beacons Telecom Grows Wales FTTP Network to 7,000 Premises

UK ISP Beacons Telecom, which last year started to build their own gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network across rural and urban parts of Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales (here), have made impressive progress for a smaller provider and are now approaching 7,000 premises passed.

The operator, which is funded by a mix of private investment and public funding via the UK and Welsh Government’s associated voucher schemes, is currently working to deploy their network across a total of 13 towns and villages including: Govilon, Gilwern, Crickhowell, Coed-y-Paen, Glascoed, Bwlch, Llangynidr, Clydach, Glangrwyney, Maesygwartha, Pentre’rfelin, Pentrebach and Llandeilo’r Fan.

So far, progress appears to have been good and Beacons Telecom are now approaching a total network coverage of 7,000 premises passed with high take-up, which is impressive given how young they are and the challenges in some of the rural areas where they’re currently focused. Some of this involves running new fibre through Openreach’s existing ducts (PIA).

The provider has now informed us that, by the end of 2022, they plan to have passed 15,000 premises with their GPON and Ethernet based network infrastructure (i.e. effectively doubling their coverage within a year).

Trevor Mosedale, Founder of Beacons Telecom, told ISPreview.co.uk:

“We plan to continue our rollout across both urban and rural locations knowing that we can get a high take up in rural areas which compensates for the higher running costs of these networks. Will we be expanding in all directions from our existing installed area starting builds in towns and large villages and working our way out to the rural areas.

We have worked very closely with the local authorities and community councils in mid Wales and have been selected as the supplier to community schemes in Pentrebach, Llandeilo’r fan, Pennorth, Llangorse, Llanywern, Talyllyn, Erwood and Crickadarn in Powys against competition from Broadway and Voneus. Proven ability to deliver broadband into rural locations has been a key factor in being selected.

Providing a local service has also been an important factor in winning business in both urban and rural locations. The popularity of the Welsh countryside post covid has led to an older population throughout the area. This in turn has led to a customer base who need a little more help and support than the average. We pride ourselves on providing this support.”

Customers of the service tend to pay from just £17.99 per month for a 160Mbps (50Mbps upload) package with a 50GB usage allowance (£24.99 for unlimited usage) on a 12-month contract term, which rises to just £39.99 for an unlimited 1000Mbps (300Mbps upload) service. Symmetric speed packages are also available to businesses, if they so desire.

“We have maintained competitive pricing without being unrealistic in the market as we suspect some of our competitors have been. We don’t believe anyone can provide fibre broadband to rural locations at less than the going rate in large UK cities,” added Trevor.