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Swansea Bay City region Dark Fibre East project completed
The project has delivered a new secure fibre network linking 36 public-sector sites through 46 connections to help key organisations work more closely together.
At a glance
Who: Swansea Bay City Region; Virgin Media O2 Business; (VMO2 Business).
What: Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure Programme has announced the completion of the Dark Fibre East project, delivered by Virgin Media O2 Business.
Why: To deliver a new secure fibre network linking 36 public-sector sites through 46 connections, which will help key organisations work more closely together and improve public services for the benefit of local communities.
When: Building commenced in July 2024 and the network is now completed.
Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure Programme has announced the completion of the Dark Fibre East project. It marks a major step forward in improving digital connectivity for public services across the Welsh region.
The project has delivered a new secure fibre network linking 36 public-sector sites through 46 connections. This will help key organisations work more closely together and help improve public services for the benefit of local communities.
Supporting modern digital services
The Dark Fibre East network allows public organisations to share information securely and at high speed. It supports modern digital services, cloud systems, and new ways of working. The network also improves resilience, helping critical services stay connected and continue operating during disruptions.
The network was delivered by Virgin Media O2 Business (VMO2 Business) with a total investment of £1,354,698.70 from the Swansea Bay City Deal.
“It builds on the Swansea Bay City Deal’s commitment to invest in infrastructure that delivers lasting benefits for people, businesses, and public services across South-West Wales”
“This project has been a fantastic success and will strengthen public-sector services for years to come,” said Martin McFadyen, director, public sector at VMO2 Business. “We’re proud to have been the delivery partner and look forward to continuing our strong working relationships across the Swansea Bay City Region.”
VMO2 Business’s seamless deployment of the new infrastructure has been instrumental in ensuring the network was delivered efficiently and to the highest standard, providing a strong foundation for enhanced digital services across the region.
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Partners connected through the project include the Welsh Ambulance Service University Trust, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Carmarthenshire County Council, Swansea Council, Neath Port Talbot Council, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and Swansea University.
By treating digital infrastructure as a long-term asset, the project helps future-proof public services and supports wider plans for a smarter, more connected region.
Close collaboration with local authorities and partner organisations played a key role in the project’s success. Their support helped ensure smooth delivery by reducing delays and enabling timely access and permissions across sites.
“The Dark Fibre East project is a fantastic milestone for the Digital Infrastructure Programme,” councillor Rob Stewart, leader of Swansea Council and chair of the Swansea Bay City Deal Joint Committee. “It builds on the Swansea Bay City Deal’s commitment to invest in infrastructure that delivers lasting benefits for people, businesses, and public services across South-West Wales.”
Dark fibre is unused or unlit cable that isn’t yet carrying signals but can be bought or leased to create a high-capacity network.
Why not try these links to see what our SmartCitiesWorld AI can tell you.
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How will the dark fibre improve interoperability between public-sector organisations?What bandwidth and latency targets should the dark fibre support?How will the network enhance resilience during outages or infrastructure failures?In what ways can dark fibre facilitate cloud and digital service deployment?How can partners scale and lease additional dark fibre capacity cost-effectively?
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