History

Our History

Surf was formed in 1994 as the telecommunications business of the regional electricity company and was renamed Surf Telecoms in 1999 as part of the restructuring of the Western Power Distribution Group. Over the years we’ve extended our network and now offer services via our own networks across the Midlands, South West and Wales – and nationally via connections with our communications partners.

Key Dates

2012 completion of multi-£million project for JANET further consolidating its position as one of the world’s leading research and education networks
2011 Surf extends its operational reach with the acquisition by Western Power of the Central Networks distribution network offering even greater capability, capacity and connectivity for customers
2010 New Storage area networking and data centre solutions products. Qualified as supplier to JANET UK academic customers
2009 MPLS layer installed in South West (£2.2m)/Service signed up for providing services to education facilities in Cornwall Celebrates 10 years as Surf Telecoms
2008 CPL layer installed in South West (£1.5m)/Major broadband customers signed up offering core backhaul aggregation CoLo facilities upgraded at site locations offering enhanced services such as fire suppression
2007 Offering bespoke multiple Gig E, dark fibre and enhanced co location solutions to backhaul major broadband networks specifically in the Wales area First 10Gbit Ethernet services rolled out
2006 Further extension and customer connection on the DWDM network Introduces improved data security standards such as ISO 27001 New contracts in supplying Ethernet services to health sector throughout Cornwall and Devon
2005 Upgrades to DWDM optical network and extended to include additional regional points of presence Ethernet services extended to offer connectivity and services for the education sector
2004 £0.8m investment in fixed link upgrades
2003 Launches wholesale wavelength capacity services into Wales
2002 Partners national operator to extend national reach and push flexible bandwidth services into the South West and Wales. Introduces Metro Ethernet Switching to deliver next generation Ethernet. Established first regional Gigabit Ethernet services in Wales
2001 Extends into Wales with Wave Division Multiplex technology
2000 Installs second fibre route from Bristol to Land’s End via North Devon
1999 Changes name from SWEB Telecoms to Surf Telecoms
1997 Builds SDH network for South West Universities (Exeter and Plymouth)
1995 Qualifies for full national PTO (Public Telecoms Operators) licence. Extends fibre-network to Land’s End
1994 Builds fibre optic network route for major carriers from Bristol to Plymouth