Pipex

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Pipex was the UK's first commercial ISP in the UK and in 2007 Pipex was the sixth largest ISPs in the UK^[1].

Pipex is still one of the largest UK networks (AS5413)^[2], and a well recognised brand.

History

In 1990 Unipalm formed The Public I.P. Exchange Ltd (PIPEX), established and founded by Peter Dawe, as the first commercial ISP in the UK.^[3]

In mid-92, it began operating a 64k transatlantic leased line to UUNET and another to JANET^[4]. One of its first customers was Demon Internet, shortly followed by the BBC^[4].

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 a Cisco Catalyst 1200 Network switch which formed the basis of LINX.^[5]

Unipalm Pipex was sold to UUNet in November 1995 for £150 million, where it became UUNet/Pipex.^[6][3][7]

The brand became known as Worldcom Pipex, after UUnet merged with MFS, which is later acquired by WorldCom before merging with MCI to form WorldCom MCI, later renaming back to MCI which was then taken over by Verizon Communications.^[8] 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. ^[9]

In January 2002 Pipex invested £2 million to get 40,000 DSL users online.^[10]

In October 2003 Pipex was acquired by GX Networks plc, who retained the Pipex name, renaming itself to Pipex Communications plc.^[11][12] Pipex remained a strong brand, and an internet 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. ^[13]

In Summer 2006 Pipex began a TV campaign fronted by David Hasselhoff and Deep Roy with Hassellhoff styling himself as "King of the Internet; Powered by Pipex".^[14]

In September 2007, the Pipex brand was sold to Tiscali UK, along with sale of all Broadband customers.^[15] Pipex Business was rebranded as Vialtus and became a separate entity to the Pipex that remains.^[16]

Notes and References

• Costello, Neil (2000). Stability and Change in High-Tech Enterprises: Organisational Practices in Sme's. Routledge. ISBN 0415231213.