Elevate to deliver full fibre internet across Cardiff

Elevate to deliver full fibre internet across Cardiff

Please note: since the original publication of this article, Telcom and Luminet have integrated and rebranded under the name Elevate.

Telcom Group has been selected for the next phase of Cardiff hypercity transformation.

Telcom Group, the Gresham House backed leading provider of full fibre internet, has announced it has been selected by Cardiff Council to roll out the next phase of the city’s full fibre internet network to homes and businesses across the city. This is part of a multi-million-pound investment through the Welsh Government’s Local Broadband Fund.

Access to high-speed fibre internet is currently sporadic with many areas remaining underserved due to a patchwork approach to existing networks. As a result, some homes and businesses find themselves trapped on the wrong side of the digital divide, even in one of the UK’s most thriving capital cities. Thus, Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government have committed to remedying the issue, targeting 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, a new full fibre network, capable of providing high speed connections to  homes and businesses  in Cardiff, replacing the old low speed legacy copper networks. This Phase was completed in March 2024, with the second phase planned for delivery throughout 2024/2025. The development is made possible by a multi-million-pound investment by the Welsh Government in the economic future of the city.

Chris Baldock, Executive Chairman at Telcom Group, commented, "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."

‍Cllr Chris Weaver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance at Cardiff Council, said, “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."

“Along with the significant improvements to broadband infrastructure that wouldn’t have been provided by commercial operators, Telcom is also offering a Social Value Tariff. 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.”

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About the Local Broadband Fund

The Welsh Government has made funding available to support local authorities and social enterprises to deliver broadband projects locally. This is part of its work to help make sure everyone has access to fast and reliable digital infrastructure. The fund allows local authorities and social enterprises to deliver innovative broadband solutions to communities.