Wednesday, 16 November. Vale of Glamorgan. Wales’s home-grown broadband company – Ogi – marks the end of engineering work in one of its first towns with a series of workshops and community-based events.
Part of the initial phase to bring full fibre connectivity to premises across south Wales announced in June 2021, work began in Llantwit Major some 18-months ago. Since then, Ogi and its team of engineers have been busy working across the town to bring Gigabit-capable infrastructure direct to more than 7,000 doors.
Supporting a tightknit community like Llantwit Major throughout the roll our work, teams across Ogi helped in a variety of ways, from volunteer litter picks and garden clearing, to helping the Glamorgan Voluntary Service build a community garden in the centre of town.
In total, Ogi supported over 20 events across the town, including the summer fayres, bonfire night display and the These 3 Streams arts festival – all returning in person for the first time since the pandemic.
In October, Ogi launched its innovative schools programme in the town, supporting three schools to access taster sessions with renowned interactive science and engineering practitioners, Science Made Simple. This ten thousand pound initiative is designed to spark young people’s interest in science, maths, technology and engineering, and the career possibilities that come with these STEM subjects.
Community Liaison Officer, Louise Clement, who based herself in Llantwit Major for the duration of the roll out, said: “It’s sad to be packing up our offices here at CF61 – it will feel really strange not coming in to town every day having been doing so for so long.
“Llantwit is a lovely place, and I’ve enjoyed meeting residents and business owners over the last year or so. The town is bursting with creativity and, I hope, what we leave behind – through our network – will serve the community for many years to come.”
During her time in the town, Louise worked with community movers and shakers, businesses and volunteers, often offsetting engineering disruption with events, coffee mornings and volunteering activities with the local Police, Llantwit and Cowbridge Lions, CF61, and Picolo Blue Coffee. She initiated Ogi’s community fund ‘Cefnogi’ – which supports grassroots organisations through grants and volunteering opportunities earlier this year, off the back of her time in Llantwit. To date, the fund has directly supported more than four local groups in Llantwit Major and a total of thirteen across the Vale.
Head of Brand and Engagement, Sarah Vining, said: “As one of the first towns to benefit from our Gigabit-capable roll out, we’ve learnt a lot from residents and businesses. We’re truly grateful to everybody who’s worked with us – as pioneers in many ways – across the town, and look forward to a long-lasting relationship as our network grows here.
“We put community at the heart of all we do here at Ogi, and Louise has worked tirelessly with the community to live and breath that mission. While our engineering work comes to an end, our relationship with the town continues through our network offering, community activities and schools programme. We can’t wait to see what people and businesses across the town do with their new ultrafast speeds.”
Ogi leave the town with a new Gigabit-capable network, capable of growing with demand and as our technology needs evolve at home and work. One of the first Welsh towns to benefit from the new providers roll out, Llantwit is expected to yield an economic investment equivalent to 5 times that of Ogi’s initial £3million spend.