History
A licensed service provider on the Isle of Man, Wi-Manx started operations in 2004. A 100% Manx owned firm, we started business providing a range of services including VoIP (Voice over IP) and connectivity using Microwave wireless technologies. After several months of providing wireless links and voice services – we quickly discovered a demand for our services in the fixed line market.
We got to work expanding our network so we could begin providing a range of ADSL, SDSL and other fixed line services. Our entrance to the broadband market caused quite a stir in what was once a fairly stagnant market with little competition, a market where competition was desperately needed.
Our range of innovative broadband products became very popular, static IP addresses as standard – no charge, great value prices, modern ADSL equipment and with PlusTalk, free, unlimited UK and Isle of Man landline calls – hard to believe at the time. We believe we raised the bar in terms of what people came to expect from their ISP.
Around the same-time, the number of home-users and businesses utilising our innovative voice services was growing rapidly, we began seeing millions of calls being made over our network. Over the years we have seen our DSL customer grow to several thousand households and we are now considered a leading ISP on the Island, with many (we believe) satisfied customers!
Despite our success in the DSL market, we never completely moved away from our wireless routes – in 2006 we sought a 3.5GHz FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) license from Ofcom. Soon after we began the design and commission of a state of the art WiMAX (802.16e) wireless broadband network. In 2007 – we launched the UK’s first commercial WiMAX network. This was quite a feat at the time and the investment in the carrier grade network has paid dividends, with the WiMAX service today still an attractive alternative to some legancy fixed line products.
In 2007 we made further investments in our network with a relocation to Heywood House, the development of a state of the art NOC and a significant investment in our network infrastructure.
With several thousand loyal broadband customers, our commercial customers now include datacentres, e-gaming businesses, banks, IT service providers, local councils, legal firms, media companies and some of the largest enterprises – both on and off the Island. We work closely with IT service providers and due to our flexibility, we are now the choice of connectivity for a number of managed service providers based around Europe.
Over the years we have developed a reputation as an innovative, dependable, great-value and forward thinking service provider and we will continue to built on these foundations. We are also proud of our investment in the Island, its businesses, its people – and Wi-Manx continues to be a 100% Manx Owned and operated company.
2010 will prove to be an exciting year, we’re midway through a multi-million pound investment in a hosting centre featuring state-of-the-art power, cooling and network facilities. We’ll be finalising the development of our IPv6 network and as always, we’ll be looking to develop new and exciting products.
