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Transport for Wales launches new high speed internet network

2025-04-05 17:14:06 By

Transport for Wales has launched a new full fibre high speed internet network which was installed in tandem with the South Wales Metro rail electrification project.

In a UK rail industry first the transport body of the Welsh Government said its wholesale network can be reached by one million people, through new subsidiary venture TfW Ffeibr.

Alexia Course, chief commercial officer at TfW said: “We’re extremely proud and excited to be launching TfW Ffeibr, to provide a state-of-the-art high-speed network for companies to use and sell within Valley communities.

“We’ve been carrying out huge infrastructure works in the Valleys, electrifying the railway line as part of the South Wales Metro and this presented us with an opportunity to also build the infrastructure for a high-speed core network.

“The Metro project is about physically connecting people and TfW Ffeibr is about connecting people in the digital world. At TfW, we’re fully aligned to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act and this new subsidiary business reinforces our commitment to improving the lives of people in Wales.”

Guy Reiffer, managing director at TfW Ffeibr, said:“This is an industry and UK first – a rail infrastructure project that has diversified and utilised its construction to also install a high-speed, full fibre internet capable network.

“We’re excited to launch and we’re looking forward to working with teleco companies to provide big-bandwidth full fibre internet for communities that are harder to reach.

“For people living in the Valleys, high-speed internet enabled by our core fibre offering will open up lifestyle and business opportunities.”

As well as reaching around one million people, TfW Ffeibr is currently accessing the number of business that could utilise the network., which is though accessible to many of the region's business parks.

TfW Ffeibr is currently talking to a range of internet service providers and telecommunication (telco) companies over commercial use of its wholesale network.

It said: “This will be either to connect towns and villages where an internet service provider is building out those towns or to connect businesses for those internet service providers or telcos, We cannot comment on individual discussions at this stage.”

For those using the network TfW Ffeibr will charge a connection fee and for the distance provided. It declined to comment on projected revenues in its first three years.

TfW wouldn't disclose the cost of installing the fibre on the Metro network. The bill for electrifying the Core Valley Lines, along with part of the City Line and the Coryton Line in Cardiff, will come in at just over £1bn.

Moreover, alternative full fibre teleco, Ogi, has installed a new full fibre leased line connection at Cariff City FC’s training centre at Hensol in the Vale of Glamorgan. The new infrastructure is already boosting the club’s ability to process performance data in real time during training sessions.

Ogi is already a well-known name in sport, with Cardiff Rugby, Parc y Scarlets, and the home of Welsh rugby, the Principality Stadium, among its customers. It also has sponsorship deals with Haverfordwest County AFC and the community-owned Merthyr Town FC.

Ogi’s chief executive, Ben Allwright, said: “As a big football fan, I’m delighted to see Ogi supporting our home city club, Cardiff City. There’s a real sense of community among City’s supporters – and this plays to our community-centric ethos here at Ogi too.

“Bringing our connectivity to the Bluebirds’ training base has the potential to help the teams develop their game and I’m very excited to see how increased access to real time analytics plays out on the pitch.”

Huw Warren, head of commercial at Cardiff City FC, said: “Ogi is a strong signing and welcome addition to the Cardiff City family. They’re a Welsh brand making huge strides across the country right now and the support they’ve given since our partnership started has been exceptional.

“Ogi’s full fibre technology enables us to do things faster and more efficiently, accessing data in the split seconds that matter on the pitch.

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Mid Wales DNA tech testing firm boosted with equity investment

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Not just 'shiny tech bits' – how AI could power Liverpool and its businesses to global success

We’re moving from AI hype to reality, tech leaders say – and a global event in Liverpool today heard how the city region can become a leader in AI technology that’s changing the world for the better. The city region’s first-ever AI summit brought together leaders in AI, one of the fastest-growing and most high-profile sectors in the global economy. Speakers included the UK boss of global tech giant IBM, who said Liverpool City Region was “well set to become a leader in responsible AI”. And the summit also heard from North West entrepreneurs – one of whom told BusinessLive that his firm had recently hit a key regulatory milestone that should allow it to start working in the USA. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said Liverpool city region needed to stay ahead of the technological curve to make sure it was ready for all future innovations and inventions. He said the summit was “about showing the world what the Liverpool City Region is all about: innovation with heart, technology with purpose and a vision of progress that leaves no one behind". And he said: “Artificial intelligence is a perfect example of this. Not the fancy algorithms - or shiny tech bit - but because, with the right guardrails in place, it can empower us to solve real problems, improve people’s lives, and build a fairer, more equitable society.” The Metro Mayor hailed the success of recent AI projects, such as Alder Hey Children’s Hospital using AI to help doctors diagnose illnesses faster, and the success of the UK’s most powerful industrial supercomputer in Daresbury at supporting innovative tech firms. He said: “Collaboration is key to all of this. That’s what makes this region special. The Liverpool City Region has a knack for punching above its weight. It’s in our DNA. When I was growing up, this was a region known for its resilience and creativity. “We didn’t just follow trends; we set them. Today, we’re taking that same spirit into the digital age. But leadership comes with responsibility. “As AI develops, we need to make sure it reflects our values of fairness, inclusivity, and sustainability. AI should empower people, not replace them. It should build trust, not breed suspicion. And it should create opportunities for everyone. “Together, we will use those ideas to cement the Liverpool City Region as a global leader in ethical, impactful artificial intelligence.” Dr Nicola Hodson, chief executive at IBM UK and Ireland, said she was proud to be in Liverpool as a Widnes native who studied at the University of Liverpool. 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UK fintech funding races ahead of Europe as sector looks for 2025 rebound

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Newcastle property firm iamproperty to create 100 jobs over coming months

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Google faces UK antitrust probe in crackdown on Big Tech dominance

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Tyneside tech firm Leighton moves to new city centre offices

North East software development company Leighton has relocated its regional headquarters to a prime office scheme in Newcastle city centre. Leighton, which specialises in building software products and optimising processes for customers, had been based at The Core at Newcastle Helix, but has now moved its head office to the 14-storey Bank House in Pilgrim Street. The company has taken space within the Cubo offices, the top two floors of the building that the flexible workspace provider opened up last year. Leighton reached a significant milestone as it celebrates the growth of its team to 100 colleagues following another year of sustained growth. The office – the first site for Cubo in the North East – gives members a 360-degree panoramic view of the city’s skyline. The company said it saw a 31% increase in revenue during its 2024 financial year and is set for another year of record performance at the end of the 2025 financial year, with projected growth in the double figures, through its work with customers including British Airways, Atom Bank, Equans, IAG Loyalty and Greggs. James Bunting, CEO at Leighton, said the relocation reinforces its commitment to maintaining headquarters in the North East while supporting its growing hybrid workforce, who will be able to take advantage of Cubo’s national network of locations. Mr Bunting said: “This transition marks a significant milestone for Leighton, as we continue to invest in an environment where our team and customers can come together to thrive, collaborate and innovate. Access to Cubo’s office network across the UK is important to us as it will ensure all of our team will have access to spaces where great work happens, and our culture comes to life. It also reflects our ongoing commitment to retaining a headquarters in the North East and supporting the growing tech sector in the region.” Last year the business made key strategic appointments, which included welcoming Lee Gilmore as principal solutions architect, and Clare Gledhill as chief consulting officer to lead on the company’s consultancy offering. Mr Gilmore added: “The tech sector in the North East is a growing hub and we’re only going to see more focus, business, and talent around what is already a thriving sector. It’s great to be working with like-minded individuals who are so invested in cultivating and growing the amazing talent already working in the region.”

Dyson to move workforce out of Bristol and scrap tech hub plans

Engineering giant Dyson is planning to move its workforce out of Bristol and is scrapping plans for a tech and research hub in the city - despite investing £100m in a new building. The company, best known for its bagless vacuum cleaners, will relocate 180 staff to its large campus in Wiltshire. It will mean all of Dyson's South West employees are based in one location. Dyson's Malmesbury base is home to the Dyson Institute, where 185 undergraduate and postgraduate engineers study while working for the company. The move comes despite a major investment by Dyson into a previously planned research and development hub in Bristol. The company, which currently rents office space on College Green, purchased and carried out a top-to-bottom refurbishment of 1 Georges Square in Finzels Reach last year. The £100m Bristol research centre, first announced in 2023, was expected to employ hundreds of extra AI and software engineers as well as the global tech firm’s commercial and e-commerce teams for Great Britain and Ireland. It is understood that Dyson staff will no longer move into the building, but will relocate to Malmesbury instead. The Finzels Reach office block, which is owned by the Dyson family, will be rented out to another employer. Although no date has been set for the relocation to Wiltshire, Business Live understands it will be in spring when the lease on Dyson's rented office expires. Staff members will be given support with the commute to Malmesbury, about 45-minutes' drive away. The news comes less than a year after Dyson announced plans to cut a third of its UK workforce as part of global restructuring. Dyson's chief executive Hanno Kirner said last year the review would ensure the business was "prepared for the future". The campus at Malmesbury was Dyson's head office until 2019 when founder Sir James Dyson moved the company's HQ from the UK to Singapore. The billionaire tycoon has long been a critic of the UK's economic policies and made the decision post-Brexit to move Dyson's headquarters closer to its manufacturing sites and supply chains. Asia also has a free trade agreement with the European Union. Last year, Sir James and his family were revealed to be the richest people in the West of England despite experiencing a fall in their wealth of £2.2bn over the year. According to the Sunday Time Rich List, Britain’s best-known inventor had a fortune of £20.8bn in 2024 - down from £23bn in 2023.

Newcastle lab grown leather specialist BSF secures £50,000 funding to begin manufacturing

Biotech group BSF Enterprise has secured a £50,000 grant that it will use to begin small scale manufacturing of its lab grown leather products. Newcastle University spin-out 3D Bio-Tissues Ltd (3DBT), which is part of the group, has been awarded the sum by Northern Accelerator, a growth support programme that is a collaboration between Durham, Newcastle and Northumbria universities along with the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI). It says the funding will be instrumental in moving the product from the laboratory to small scale production and commercialisation, by paying for external resources. Bosses say the awarding of the grant recognises 3DBT's tissue engineering technology and its potential to be a disruptor in the global leather market. The firm has been working with French fashion brand Maison Amelie Pichard, providing material for the label's handbags and showing it can meet key environmental and ethical challenges in the market. The grant money will be used to conduct market research to spot high-growth opportunities and identify revenue streams in key sectors including fashion automotive. A "technology roadmap" will be created to set out the steps needed towards a growable manufacturing process, including addressing technical risks, and will provide a plan for developing a pilot factory - a move which 3DBT says will be a pivotal milestone in moving from innovation to commercial scalability. The grant is just the latest in a string of funding awards for London Stock Exchange-listed BSF Enterprise, which also owns Kerato, Lab-Grown Leather Ltd and a Hong Kong subsidiary. Earlier this month the group raised £500,000 in an oversubscribed share placing which it said would give it an operational cash runway of more than 12 months to help execute its plans. Dr Che Connon, CEO and founder of 3DBT, said: "This grant award is a pivotal moment for 3DBT. It enables us to accelerate the commercialisation of our lab-grown leather technology and underscores the growing recognition of its transformative potential. With this support, we are well-positioned to deliver a sustainable and scalable alternative to traditional leather." 3DBT says its technology is uniquely positioned to meet demand in the global leather market which was valued at $32.26bn in 2022 and is expected to grow to $47.89bn by 2031.

County Durham firm braves Dragons' Den in bid to secure investment

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2025 predictions for Apple, Amazon, Meta, Tesla and other tech titans - what to expect

The 'Magnificent Seven' tech giants, namely Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta and Tesla, saw a combined growth of 63 per cent in 2024, building on the strong performance of 2023. Deutsche Bank disclosed that these companies generated more profit in 2024 than most national stock markets, as reported by City AM. However, JP Morgan has predicted a decline in their contribution to S&P 500 earnings growth from 75 to 33 per cent in the coming year, indicating potential challenges. Will they maintain their market dominance this year? Here's an analysis of their prospects for 2025: Apple, a much-loved brand, reported robust sales in 2024, with its privacy features and ecosystem retaining customer loyalty. However, service growth fell short of expectations, and innovation in hardware seemed subdued. Susannah Streeter, Head of Money and Markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, suggests that the company's focus on AI could steer it in a new direction in 2025. Despite a five per cent cumulative revenue growth over the past three years, the consensus is for seven per cent growth in 2025, keeping expectations high. However, its stock has only risen 41 per cent over the past three years, underperforming the 51 per cent increase in the information technology index. Microsoft, meanwhile, cemented its place at the heart of the AI revolution in 2024, with Azure revenue up by 34 per cent, as per Streeter. The integration of AI tools like Copilot across its software suite has impressed analysts. In the forthcoming year, cloud computing competition and increased regulatory scrutiny could challenge its growth trajectory, yet the discontinuation of Windows 10 support might trigger an upgrade cycle, according to Dan Niles, founder of AlphaOne Capital Partners. He recently expressed on LinkedIn that the termination of Windows 10 "could also lead to some upgrades in their core PC business while a ramp in AI PC demand is a hope for some point in the future". Amazon's Cloud AWS remained a key growth driver in 2024, with a 19 per cent revenue increase as global AI adoption soared. E-commerce margins saw a rebound following the company's cost-reduction strategies. Streeter noted, "margins have recovered after the huge cost-saving drive with worldwide layoffs." Amazon may emerge as the top performer for 2025, having surpassed both revenue and margin expectations in the latest quarter. However, Nile pointed out the potential for a challenging start to 2025 due to uncertain consumer spending patterns, fewer shopping days, and less favourably timed holidays. For Meta, the tech behemoth's strategic downsizing yielded positive results in 2024, evidenced by a five per cent increase in daily active users. Its investment in AI has improved ad targeting and content curation, bolstering advertiser trust. Yet, the question remains whether Meta can maintain its growth momentum into 2025 without the previous year's tailwinds from political elections or major events like the Olympics, which had contributed to heightened user engagement. "If its revenue doesn’t keep up", warned Streeter, "margins may come under pressure, deterring its investors". Alphabet, the parent company of Google, also posted strong results in 2024, driven by its cloud business and AI advancements. However, the ongoing case by the US Department of Justice against Google’s search monopoly casts a shadow over the firm’s 2025 outlook. Sundar Pichai, the Chief Executive, highlighted the importance of utilising AI to accelerate progress and solve real-world problems. The company made headlines towards the end of 2024, as Pichai prepared his employees for an important, "pivotal" year ahead, while also alerting them to potential challenges. Tesla begins to lose momentum. Tesla experienced a surge of optimism in 2024, with its stock increasing by 63 per cent, partially due to Elon Musk’s advisory role in the Trump administration. However, a decrease in EV demand and the potential loss of tax credits in 2025 could impact the company’s sales. Therefore, Tesla's ability to scale production of its affordable electric vehicles and expand self-driving capabilities will be crucial for 2025. Nvidia was largely the leader of the Magnificent Seven group in 2024, overtaking Apple as the world’s most valuable company with its shares rising by 171 per cent amid surging AI demand. Despite taking a slight hit at the end of 2024, according to Investopedia, the firm’s sales and earnings flourished. Moreover, Nvidia's Blackwell super chip and dominance in AI infrastructure are positioned for continued growth in 2025.