A new high-capacity digital route into South Wales has opened for business.

Through a 25-year agreement with the Welsh Government, telecoms provider Ogi has built a network of dark fibre and microducts, creating a new diverse route along the southeast section of the M4 corridor.

Mapping the public-owned trunk road network, the new 70km route offers a mix of wholesale products, boosting capacity and resilience for the likes of carriers, hyper-scalers, datacentres and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) looking to expand in and beyond the region.

High-capacity fibre pairs and microducts have been installed over the Prince of Wales bridge, from where they pass through Vantage Data Centre on the edge of Newport and on to the Stadium House internet exchange in the centre of Cardiff.

The new products offer an alternative means to scale networks across South Wales, with capacity to grow and extend across South Wales and onto Ireland as demand increases.

Ogi described the project as a “huge feat of civil engineering”, with engineers using the latest micro-trenching technology to rapidly cut enough space for the ducts. The company said this made road surface reinstatement much faster and less carbon intensive than traditional methods and led to a faster delivery time for key parts of the project.

Chief Technology and Operations Officer, Justin Leese, said:

“With billions being invested in new data centres around the world the need for high-capacity connectivity and increasing resilience regionally – along with the expert support that goes with it – is pivotal if Wales is going to attract tomorrow's tech leaders today.

“The big data age is here. With technology like AI forging ahead there is a need for more space and network capacity. This new network puts Wales on the map as a place to do business confidently, boosting the opportunities for a sector that’s already worth more than £8.5billion to the Welsh economy.”

Managing Director of broadcast production company Whisper Cymru, Carys Owens, added:

“This is great news for Wales and for thriving industries like the broadcast and creative sectors. As we continue to push boundaries in high-quality content production here in Wales, the need for high-capacity, reliable connectivity – and diversity of networks – is fundamental.

“There used to be a perception that you have to leave South Wales to work on major projects in the creative industries, but our work shows that’s not the case. This news isn’t just about connectivity – it opens up the potential to bring more investment, more skills and more opportunities to the country. It’s a huge leap forward for industries like the creative sector and tech – and will really give us a competitive edge.”