Our Journey

The Rise of a Performance Pioneer

Milestones in our mission to master connectivity

From humble beginnings to becoming a leading force in connectivity solutions, Datel Group has continuously evolved, expanding its reach and expertise to meet the demands of an ever-changing industry. Below is a timeline of key milestones that have shaped our journey.

1995 - In the Beginning

In the March, Chris Fry was made redundant from Siemens Communications Ltd after nearly 10yrs service and, although he had several offers of employment, he chose to go into partnership with a friend. Before leaving Siemens, he was able to get on their approved contractors list, leaving them on a Friday and back as a contractor the following Monday.

1997 - Datel Services is Born

During the not so successful partnership we had planned my exit strategy with a view of starting a business of my own, whilst unsure of the exact date Chris believed it to be around February 1997 when Datel Services was born and started operating at home out of our spare bedroom.
The business was started as a “Trading as” with Lynn and Chris the only partners, the name was a mix from Data & Telecoms this was mainly due to most companies, at that time, having separate cabling systems for their voice and data networks, integrated Structured Cabling, that was introduced in1995, was still in its infancy but was clearly the cabling of the future and he wanted a name to reflect that.
They had little or no experience of running a small business, so they had to learn on the hoof, so to speak, Lynn even undertaking a night school class to help her with the bookkeeping. The Siemens work was quite lucrative, which helped the business grow and helped both Lynn and Chris to understand more about the ins and outs of running a business.

1998 - First Structured Cabling Project

As their experience grew so did the type of cabling projects that they were able to take on. Chris began to see a move towards Structured Cabling, Cat 5, although Datel were still installing plenty of voice only Block Wiring schemes, owners of commercial premises could see the benefits of integrated cabling systems for voice, data and video. Our first Structured cabling network was for a company called Cloverleaf in Swindon; this had a 25yr warranty provided by Wadsworth’s under their Net 5 programme.

1999 - Datel Becomes a Limited Company

This year saw new opportunities and new direct clients, and in the September, this was the year of our incorporation. Datel was developing good relationships with Weston College and undertook all their cabling requirements on multiple sites.
Datel was introduced to Cwm Taf Health Authority and the newly constructed Royal Glamorgan Hospital, in partnership with Siemens we undertook a DECT survey at RGH, installed the new cabling and base stations. We Carried out Fluke testing to the 5000+ outlets and provided the test results to the Trust, as the previous installer had unfortunately gone bust, we replaced, re-terminated or repaired any faulty cables/sockets and replaced several hundred over length cables.
This was the start of a relationship that still exists today and has seen us undertake several large structured cabling installations in various buildings throughout the trust over the years.

2000 - Millennium Demand

Due to Y2K or Millennium Bug, we saw a lot more structured cabling opportunities coming our way, with older computers that needed to be upgraded/replaced, and the existing cabling needed to be upgraded from Coax, Twinax, Token Ring and Cat 3 (10 Base T) to cat 5 that offered speeds of 10/100Mbps.
We were seeing us further develop our relationship with HM Prison Service which provided us with multiple cabling opportunities in HMP Bristol, HMP Gloucester, HMP Leyhill, HMP Usk, HMP Prescoed, HMP Cardiff and various others in the Southwest including HMP Dartmoor.

Our direct client base was growing steadily with continued work with Cwm Taf, Weston College, HM Prison Service, Sherborne Boys School and Sherborne International College, Exeter City Council, Penwith District Council, to name but a few.

2001 - Introduction of Cat 5e

Cat 5e structured cabling was introduced as an enhanced version of the original Cat5. While Cat5 was limited to 100Mbps, Cat5e was developed to support Gigabit Ethernet, enabling speeds up to 1000Mbps (1 Gigabit).

2002 - Advancing with Cat 6

Cat 6 structured cabling was first launched in the UK. It was introduced as an advancement over Cat 5 and Cat 5e, offering improved performance, particularly for Gigabit Ethernet and higher speeds.

2009 - A New Generation Joins

Chris’s son, Dan Fry, joined the business, eager to learn the trade firsthand. Starting on the tools, he gained extensive on-the-ground experience before advancing to the role of Project Manager. His technical expertise and hands-on approach helped refine Datel’s operational efficiency and strengthened its reputation for delivering high-quality projects. Over the years, Dan’s leadership and strategic vision saw him rise through the ranks, eventually becoming the company’s Managing Director, steering Datel toward continued growth and success.

2018 - Expansion of the Leadership Team

As Datel continued to grow, Dan’s brother, Ben Fry, joined the company, bringing his skills and expertise as a Project Manager. Around the same time, Dan’s partner, Sam, also joined the team, bringing a strategic mindset to streamline operations and define a long-term vision for Datel’s future growth.

2019 - Establishing the Fit-Out Division

Recognising the growing demand for full-service solutions, Datel expanded its capabilities by launching a Fit-Out Division. This new branch enabled Datel to offer turnkey solutions, combining network infrastructure expertise with workspace transformation services.

2020 - Securing a Permanent Office

With a steadily growing team and an expanding portfolio of high-profile projects, Datel secured a dedicated office in Weston-super-Mare. This move solidified the company’s presence in the industry, providing a base to enhance collaboration, training, and client engagement.

2023 - Expansion into London

To better serve clients in the capital and take advantage of major industry opportunities, Datel established an office in London. This strategic move positioned the company at the heart of one of the most dynamic business hubs in the world, enabling Datel to build stronger partnerships and take on large-scale projects.

2024 - Rebranding & New Headquarters

With a team of over 25 staff members, Datel underwent a complete rebrand, aligning its identity with its growing stature in the industry. Alongside this transformation, the company moved into a newly built head office, providing the infrastructure needed to support further expansion and innovation.

2025 - The Birth of Datel Group

To reflect its evolution into a multi-faceted organisation, Datel launched the Datel Group, comprising:

Datel North
Datel London
Datel Active
Datel Central
Datel Global

This strategic move reinforced Datel’s ability to serve clients across the UK and beyond, solidifying its position as an industry leader in turnkey connectivity installation services.

Be Part of Our Future

Datel Group has built its success on a foundation of expertise, trust, and forward-thinking innovation. As we continue to expand, we are always looking to forge new partnerships and collaborate on ambitious projects.

Want to be part of our journey? Get in touch today to discuss how we can support your connectivity needs.