Infracapital-backed UK broadband ISP Ogi, which is investing £200m to build a new full fibre (FTTP) network across 150,000 premises in Wales by 2025, has today marked their first two years of build by revealing that they’ve covered 60,000 premises (up from 47,500 in March 2023) and will be supporting several community events this summer.
The provider, which also revealed that they’d managed to attract 6,000 customers “in less than a year” (remember – take-up takes time to grow organically), are currently working in over 60 towns and villages across Wales (they also have a small presence in South West England). You can see a summary of their latest rollout plan below.
The workforce has also grown in numbers. Since its launch in 2021, Ogi (formerly Spectrum Internet) has gone from a team of 20 to a 200-strong workforce today, based in four dedicated offices across the region. Recruiting, on average, around 3 people every week.
Advertisement
In order to celebrate all this work, Ogi will be taking to the road this summer to support a range of community-based festival and events, kicking things off at the Milford Haven Carnival and Ogi Porthcawl 10K at the beginning of July.
The Ogi has landed summer of events includes *:
The events are naturally a sponsorship and promotional opportunity for the provider, particularly when they occur near to or within their deployment areas.
Ogi’s Head of Brand and Engagement, Sarah Vining, said:
“To be part of these fantastic events, right in heart of our communities is an opportunity for us to see first-hand what people want and need from their broadband provider. Each event will be different, but you can expect everything from fun filled digital challenges with our blaze pods reaction timer game, to giveaways and next-generation tech demos. We literally can’t wait to get on the road.”
Customers of the service can expect to pay from £30 per month for an unlimited plan with downloads of 150Mbps (15Mbps upload) and an included wireless router on a 24-month term, which rises to £60 for their top 900Mbps (90Mbps upload) plan. New customers will also get six months FREE broadband and evening and weekend voice calling.
Advertisement
One thing to note above is that Ogi are now moving out of their initial build phase and intend to ramp-up their rollout in Q3 2023, which means that over the coming months we should see them adding more premises and in a shorter space of time. But the 60,000 total stated today are not all ‘Ready for Service’ (RFS), which is expected to be around 10% lower.
Ogi’s Current Rollout Plan
- Bridgend: Caerau, Cwmfelin, Garth, Llangynwyd, Maesteg^, Nantyffyllon, Pencoed^, Porthcawl^
- Caerphilly: Blackwood^, Cefn Fforest, Cefn Hengoed, Fleur-de-lis, Hengoed^, Pengam, Ystrad Mynach, Maesycymmer, Pontllanfraith, Tir-y-Berth, Woodfieldside.
- Cardiff^
- Monmouthshire: Abergavenny^, Caerwent, Caldicot^, Chepstow, Crick, Monmouth^, Portskewett, Rogiet, Sudbrook, Undy.
- Newport: Langstone, Llanvaches^, Underwood^.
- Pembrokeshire: Haverfordwest^, Johnston, Milford Haven^, Neyland^, Pembroke^, Pembroke Dock^.
- Rhondda Cynon Taf: Cymmer, Dinas, Llwyncelyn, Mount Pleasant, Porth^, Tonyrefail^*, Tonypandy^*, Trebanog, Trehafod, Ynyshir.
- Torfaen: Griffithstown, New Inn, Pantymoile, Penygarn, Pontypool^, Sebastopol, Trosnant,
- Vale of Glamorgan: Dinas Powys^, Llantwit Major^, Rhoose^, St Athan.
^Local Network Exchange
Lol at a rate of 3 per week means they’ll reach well beyond 500 staff when and if they reach 150k homes live. Another alt over bloated with staff
Active in 60 towns, with 200 staff, yet only managed to build 12.5k premises in 3 months….
Most of those towns are recent additions and in the survey, rather than build, phase.
Poor take-up and one member of staff for every 30 customers.
You generally get the staff trained and in place BEFORE you start the next phase of build.
Likely the next phase of the build will be done by contractors or ‘partners’ bloating the employees to lacklustre customer ratio even further.