Spectrum Internet to Build FTTP Broadband Across South Wales

Cardiff-based UK ISP Spectrum Internet has announced that they intend to build their own gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network across South Wales, which will aim to cover 150,000 premises (homes and businesses) in various market towns and villages.

At this point anybody familiar with Spectrum Internet will know that they have dabbled with building their own FTTP networks before in a few specific locations across South West England (here) and Wales (here), although they also work alongside Openreach (BT) to sell FTTP in other areas.

However today’s announcement marks a much more significant effort to conduct their own build, which aims to harness the Welsh Government’s recent trunk road concession (i.e. giving access to 650km of road network across South Wales and existing government duct where available) to help facilitate their full fibre roll-out.

Giles Phelps, Founder of Spectrum, said:

“Our plan is to bring ultrafast fibre-to-the-premise to 150,000 homes and businesses across south Wales over the next few years. Wales is lagging behind the rest of Europe in rolling out such technology and access to the Welsh Government assets will allow us to build on our established success to many areas currently poorly served by existing telecom operators.”

Apparently this large-scale project will proceed gradually over the next 4-5 years (completion by 2025) and will require “significant investment.” On that front Spectrum is currently being advised by Cameron Barney LLP as it pursues a number of financing options, although no details about their current funding and roll-out plan were revealed today.