PIPEX
From Free net encyclopedia
Template:Infobox Company PIPEX Communications PLC is an Internet Service Provider in the United Kingdom.
The original company was established in 1991, originating from Unipalm, a software reseller in Cambridge, as the first commercial ISP in Britain. It initially operated with a 64k transatlantic leased line to UUNET. One of its first customers was Demon Internet. Later it merged with the US ISP UUNET to form UUNET PIPEX and the Unipalm business was sold. UUNET was subsequently taken over by Metropolitan Fiber Systems (MFS) which in turn was bought by Worldcom which is now rebranded MCI, though the UUNET name is still used for their wholesale ISP services division.
In December 1998 David Rickards purchased the dial business from MCI, including the Pipex name. MCI continued to operate the Pipex domain names and the use of some infrastructure. The new Pipex company went on to offer domestic broadband services using BTs adsl system, rapidly gaining market share by competitive pricing. It was announced in October 2003 that it was purchased by GX Networks plc., for £55 million. GX Networks renamed itself to PIPEX Communications plc to preserve the brand.
PIPEX claims to be the second largest broadband ISP in the UK by number of subscribers (as of end 2004.)
Market position and power
Image:FTSE-350-DIA-Sept05.png
Today, PIPEX focuses on the UK SME market and retains a significant base of home users. Through a number of acquisitions the company also boasts a domain registration and low-end hosting business (see Takeover History). In addition to this, PIPEX punches well above its weight in the corporate sector. September 2005 figures for the FTSE350 market list PIPEX with slightly less Dedicated Access market share than Energis (acquired by C&W) and significantly more than Easynet (acquired by Sky).
However, the company has not grown its market share of FTSE350 Dedicated Internet Access over the last year. This suggests that focus remains on the SME & home market and not corporate. This wide range of customers makes PIPEX harder to value than a pure consumer, SME, or corporate provider, while mitigating some of the risks associated with any 1 market.
Currently, there is speculation in the markets that BT may buy Pipex because it is one of the few operators in the UK who hold a license to operate WiMAX services - that is, completely wire free high speed internet over a bigger range than that of WiFi. If BT are successful, then it could be a very lucrative market for them.
PIPEX is currently the shirt sponsor for Fulham FC of the English Premier League
Takeover history
The company now known as PIPEX can be traced back to RadioTel Systems Limited through a number of acquisitions and renamings.
- RadioTel Systems awarded licence 1997
- becomes Zipcom plc July 2000
- buys HighwayOne June 2001
- buys Transigent (aka GX) 2002 and becomes GX Networks plc March 2003
- buys XTML July 2003
- buys CIX July 2003
- buys Firstnet (owners of Liberty Broadband aka Tele2 UK) September 2003
- buys PIPEX and takes the name October 2003
- buys Host Europe April 2004
- buys Nildram August 2004
- buys Donhost April 2005
- buys Freedom2Surf October 2005
- buys Caudwell Communications UK Limited (trading as Homecall) March 2006