Ogi Name 38 Towns and Villages in Wales for FTTP Broadband

Broadband ISP Ogi has today published the next phase of their rollout plan for South Wales, which will see their full fibre network coverage jump from a handful of communities to 38 (c.80,000 premises). All of this forms part of their £200m plan to extend a Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to 150,000 premises by 2025.

At present the provider, which was formerly known as Spectrum Internet and is being backed by Infracapital (M&G Plc), has already connected premises in a number of locations since their rollout started last year (here and here) – including around Haverfordwest, Rhoose, Llantwit Major, St Athan and Abergavenny. The build has also progressed in Johnston, Milford Haven, Dinas Powys and Monmouth etc.

Alternative network (AltNet) providers often spend the first year of deployment refining their approach, while the second year is more of a ramping-up phase as the rollout pace sees a rapid increase. Ogi are very much moving into the latter phase now, and we can thus expect to see a more dramatic improvement in network coverage over the coming year.

Surveying work is already underway in many of the new areas being announced today, with activity due to ramp up at street level over the coming weeks and months. Homes and businesses in many of these communities will be able to access Ogi’s ultrafast service from as early as this September 2022.

Ogi’s Rollout List of 38 “Previously Underserved Communities“

➤ Bridgend**: Porthcawl^*

➤ Caerphilly**: Cefn Hengoed*, Gelligaer*, Hengoed^*, Ystrad Mynach*, Maesycymmer*.

➤ Monmouthshire: Abergavenny^, Caerwent*, Caldicot^*, Chepstow*, Crick*, Magor^*, Monmouth^, Portskewett*, Pwllmeyric*, Rogiet*, Sudbrook*, Undy*.

➤ Newport: Llanvaches^.

➤ Pembrokeshire: Haverfordwest^, Johnston, Milford Haven^, Monkton*, Neyland^*, Pembroke^*, Pembroke Dock^*

➤ Rhondda Cynon Taf**: Cymmer*, Dinas*, Llwyncelyn*, Mount Pleasant*, Porth^*, Trebanog*, Trehafod*, Ynyshir*.

➤ Vale of Glamorgan: Dinas Powys^, Llantwit Major^, Rhoose, St Athan.

^ Local Network Exchange

* New towns and villages announced in August 2022 (28 in total)

** New Local Authority areas announced in August 2022 (3 in total)

Ogi added that their staff numbers have also gone from 20 to almost 140 in the space of just 18-months, with the business opening four new regional offices in Newport, Tongwynlais, Cardiff and St Clears, supporting more staff to live and work locally. Today’s announcement also appears to put Ogi “on course to bring fibre to a third of all premises in Pembrokeshire,” which would be a big achievement.

Ben Allwright, Ogi’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

Ogi is leading Wales’s digital revolution by bringing full fibre infrastructure to areas that really need it.

These iconic communities are bursting with innovation and creativity – and they deserve the best connectivity to help them realise their potential. As we’re seeing in places like Pembrokeshire, only Ogi can make that access a reality. Our networks are enabling businesses to thrive, wherever they are based; helping people to work closer to where they live; and families to experience the best possible home entertainment.”

Minister for Climate Change, Julie James MS, said:

“The impact of fast, affordable broadband for homes and businesses across Wales cannot be underestimated. Ogi is helping to deliver that standard across south Wales, supporting Wales in its drive to become a digital nation.”

Beyond the usual focus on rural settings, the latest rollout plan clearly also sees Ogi extending its footprint into bigger, post-industrial urban areas like Bridgend, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf. In some of these locations it’s likely that their rollout may clash with gigabit-capable broadband rivals, such as from Openreach, Netomnia (YouFibre) and Virgin Media etc.

Customers of the new service can expect to pay from £35 per month (currently £25 for the first 6 months) for an unlimited service with downloads of 150Mbps (15Mbps upload), free installation (usually £60) and an included wireless router (a mesh system on their faster plans) on a 24-month term, which rises to £55 for their top 900Mbps (90Mbps upload) plan.