- Pipex
Pipex was the UK's first commercial ISP in the
UK and in 2007 Pipex was the sixth largest ISPs in theUK [http://www.e-consultancy.com/news-blog/362844/oldest-uk-isp-pipex-on-the-block.html] .Pipex is still one of the largest UK networks (AS5413) [http://www.robtex.com/as/as5413.html] , and a well recognised brand.
History
In 1990
Unipalm formed the The Public I.P. Exchange Ltd (PIPEX), established and founded byPeter Dawe , as the first commercial ISP in theUK . [http://www.inovatech-powerline.com/content.asp?ContentId=925 InovaTech PowerLine: Network access at every power socket ] ]In mid-92, it began operating a 64k transatlantic leased line to
UUNET and another toJANET [http://support.bbc.co.uk/support/history.html] . One of its first customers wasDemon Internet , shortly followed by theBBC [http://support.bbc.co.uk/support/history.html] .In November 1994, Keith Mitchell, then chief technical officer of PIPEX, initiated a meeting with
BT to discuss the creation of a London-based Internet exchange. Pipex donated aCisco Catalyst 1200 Network switch which formed the basis ofLINX . [https://www.linx.net/about/history-of-linx.html]Unipalm Pipex was sold to
UUNet in November 1995 for £150 million, where it became UUNet/Pipex. [ [http://www.scitech2007.com/speakers.html SciTech 2003 ] ] [ [http://www.ecoln.com/nws9605.html#X6 Independent summary and comment of news items from the East Cambridgeshire area - East Cambridgeshire On-Line News ] ]The brand became known as Worldcom Pipex, after
UUnet merged withMFS , which is later acquired byWorldCom before merging withMCI to formWorldCom MCI , later renaming back to MCI which was then taken over byVerizon Communications ). [ [http://www.gtnet.gov.uk/corporate/news/ GTNet - News ] ] Pipex retains contracts with Verizon with regards to the network structure.In June 1999,
David Rickards was appointed Managing Director, when the PIPEX business was transferred to Highway Ltd. [ [http://www.advfn.com/stocks/pipex-communications-plc-gxn-networks_5422759.html PIPEX Communications plc (gxn networks) ] ]In January 2002 Pipex invested £2 million to get 40,000 DSL users online. [ [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/01/25/pipex_invests_163_2m/ Pipex invests £2m to get 40,000 DSL users online] ]
In October 2003 Pipex was acquired by
GX Networks plc, who retained the Pipex name, renaming itself toPipex Communications plc . [ [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/03/gx_networks_to_buy_pipex/ GX buys Pipex - theregister.co.uk 2003-10-03] ] [ [http://www.pipexgroup.com/pg.asp?p=1163 FREEDOM4 Group ] ] Pipex remained a strong brand, and aninternet service provider market leader.Following the successful integration of PIPEX Internet into the group,
David Rickards , Chief Operating Officer, stepped down from the Board in order to spend more time with his family. Appointed 28 October 2003, resigned 1 April 2004. [ [http://www.pipexgroup.com/components/download.asp?id=10 FREEDOM4 Group ] ]In Summer 2006 Pipex began a TV campaign fronted by
David Hassellhoff andDeep Roy with Hassellhoff styling himself as "King of the Internet; Powered by Pipex" which has attracted some online debate. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lZWcRvvaK8]In April 2007 Pipex threatened legal action against the consumer driven complaints website "pipexcommunicationsplc.com". [http://pipexcommunicationsplc.com/email-received-from-david-blackwell-pipex-april-2007.html]
In September 2007, the Pipex brand was sold to
Tiscali UK, along with sale of all Broadband customers. [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/13/tiscali_buys_pipex/]Notes and References
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