Telcom Group chosen for phase two of Cardiff fibre network

Telcom Group has been chosen by Cardiff Council to implement the next phase of the city's full fibre internet network deployment. This decision is part of a larger multi-million-pound investment by the Welsh Government aimed at boosting the city's economic future through improved digital infrastructure.

Access to high-speed fibre internet in Cardiff is currently inconsistent, leaving many areas underserved due to fragmented network coverage. As a result, numerous homes and businesses are left on the wrong side of the digital divide in one of the UK's most vibrant capital cities. Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government are committed to resolving this issue, with a target of achieving 100% availability of fibre optic internet across the city.

In August 2023, Cardiff Council announced that it had selected Telcom Group to deliver an initial phase of a new full fibre network, capable of providing high-speed connections to both homes and businesses. This phase was completed in March 2024. The upcoming second phase is scheduled for delivery throughout 2024 and 2025. The overall development is enabled by a substantial investment from the Welsh Government.

Chris Baldock, Executive Chairman at Telcom Group, expressed his satisfaction with the selection. "We are delighted to have been chosen to deliver this network for Cardiff. Telcom has extensive experience delivering on the promise of fast and reliable full fibre internet infrastructure across the UK's major cities. We believe that access to fast and reliable internet is a fundamental human right and that bringing full fibre internet to Cardiff will both empower the city's economy and enrich the lives of its residents," he said.

Echoing Baldock's comments, Councillor Chris Weaver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance at Cardiff Council, highlighted the project's community impact. "This project will deliver high quality fibre broadband to some of the most deprived communities in Cardiff and I am pleased that the second phase of the project is now underway and will be complete by March 2025," Weaver noted.

The initiative not only aims to enhance broadband infrastructure, which might not have been addressed by commercial operators but also includes a Social Value Tariff. Weaver emphasised the importance of social value in such projects, stating, "It is vital that projects such as this offer social value to our communities, and in this case, significant benefits to these areas of the city, so that residents and businesses can access fast reliable full fibre broadband."