First Connections Live on Ogi’s New Cardiff Full Fibre Network

Infracapital-backed UK broadband ISP Ogi has this morning revealed that their new multi-Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network in the city of Cardiff (Wales) has finally started to go live. But for now the provider’s local deployment is largely focused upon catering for businesses (they focus on homes in other locations).

The city build, which was first announced six months ago in March 2023 (here), has initially become available in the East Moors district and that area is due to be followed by Cardiff Bay, Dumballs Road and the city’s new Capital Quarter under Ogi’s first phase plans for the capital – expected to be completed by early 2024, with services switched on in stages.

Two of the city’s most established business hubs, The Maltings and Workbench, are already said to be prepared to migrate to the new network, giving over 100 independent businesses access to the new network. This follows similar builds in commuter towns like Blackwood, Dinas Powys, Maesteg and Pontypool.

Ogi added that their service is also being accompanied by a suite of managed services and business tools, which covers everything from firewall security to Microsoft licences, phone lines and consultancy services.

Ben Allwright, Ogi’s CEO, said:

“This is good news for businesses in the city at a time when everyone is looking for cost effective ways to do more for less.

Fast and dependable connectivity has never been more important, and with the big data age arriving at our doorstep, we’re ready to equip businesses with the tools they need to not only survive but thrive.

Full fibre lines capable of between 2Gbps to 10Gbps symmetrical speeds will soon be available for the very first time over the dedicated bespoke network, meaning businesses will have the option to expand where they are rather than move away from the city.”

The operator has so far covered a total of 60,000 premises – most of them residential – in Wales up to July 2023 (up from 47,500 in March 2023) and have added 6,000 customers “in less than a year” (here). But it’s worth noting that they aren’t the only gigabit-capable broadband network in Cardiff itself.

The vast majority of the city is already covered by gigabit networks, mostly via Virgin Media’s (Hybrid Fibre Coax) solutions and FTTP infrastructure from the likes of Openreach, Hyperoptic, FibreNest (Persimmon Homes) and the community orientated Michaelston-y-Fedw CIC project. Telcom has also just secured a contract to push fibre into the city’s poorly served areas (here).