ISP Beacons Telecom Reveals FTTP Broadband Rollout in Wales

New UK ISP Beacons Telecom (related Facebook page) has today revealed some of the first details about their plans to deploy a Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based gigabit-capable broadband network across rural parts of Wales, which is already starting to connect some of its first customers.

The provider first came to our attention last year (here) after they were name dropped by Hen Beudy Services as part of that company’s application for Code Powers from Ofcom, which can help to speed-up the deployment of new fibre optic networks and cut costs by reducing the number of licenses needed for street works.

At the time we didn’t know much about Beacons’ roll-out plan, only that they had an ambition to build a new “full fibre” network across rural parts of Wales and, possibly, then extending out to the western (border) counties of England. Since then the provider appears to have been quite busy and they’ve already begun some of their first optical fibre installations in four areas (Coed Y Paen, Gilwern, Tretower and Llangenny lane – Crickhowell/Llangenny area).

“We have ambitions to reach 1,000 completed installations by the end of 2020, which has proved to be a testing year amid the ongoing pandemic,” said Dylan Thomas, Sales Director for Beacons Telecom, to ISPreview.co.uk. “However, it has proved to us all that the demand for FTTP is massive right now.”

The provider has also recently had a “six figure funding application” approved for the town of Gilwern, where they’ve completed over 20 installations and plan on completing another 150 in the near future. The investment for this is coming from the Government’s gigabit broadband voucher programme(s). On top of that they also have 13 ongoing projects and multiple other DCMS funded projects (vouchers) in the pipeline.

All of this represents good news for Wales, which until now has lacked the same diversity of alternative network suppliers as seen elsewhere in England. “We strongly believe we have what it takes to become the number one broadband provider in Wales and we want to let the world know,” added Dylan. Admittedly that would mean beating Openreach and Virgin Media for gigabit coverage and take-up, which is still a long way off.

Meanwhile customers tend to pay from £24 per month for a 100Mbps package with a 20GB usage allowance (£36 for unlimited usage) on a 12 month contract term, which rises to £66 for an unlimited 200Mbps service. Some areas also have the option of a cheaper 160Mbps+ tier (e.g. Gilwern, Crickhowell), which is due to a mix of local competition and requirements of the voucher scheme.

Going forward Beacons Telecom claims to be only weeks away from deploying a new full fibre network to Pentrebach, Glangrwyney, Llangenny. After that they’re a few months away from hitting Llangattock, Govilon and Crickhowell. A few more areas are also very close behind those. Not bad for a new entrant into the market and we wish them well.