N.Ireland Fixed Wireless ISP Air Fibre Hoists the For Sale Sign
Fixed wireless ISP Air Fibre, which delivers a broadband network to connect premises across some of the most challenging parts of Northern Ireland and recently opened a new office in Enniskillen, has confirmed to ISPreview.co.uk that they are indeed on the market for sale.
The network, which covers parts of Greater Belfast, Lisburn, North & South Down, County Armagh and parts of County Antrim, Mid Ulster & County Fermanagh, tends to offerer unlimited broadband speeds of up to 30Mbps to homes and up to 1Gbps for businesses within its coverage areas.
A quick look at the provider’s most recent micro company accounts (made up to 30th November 2019) reveal that they have total net assets of £443,571 and 7 employees (up from £405,827 and 5 employees a year earlier). Despite this we suspect that they may soon start feeling some pressure from the rapidly expanding “full fibre” (FTTP) coverage of rivals, such as Fibrus, Openreach (BT) and Virgin Media (here).
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Neil Wylie, MD of Air Fibre, told ISPreview.co.uk:
“While it is still very much business as usual, the time is now right for the next chapter and, with demand for internet continuing to rapidly grow. It cannot be ignored that if such a large scale wireless provider as ours is purchased by a current fibre delivering company it would create the largest all service internet provider ever seen in Northern Ireland and would ultimately be fantastic for everyone seeking better internet.”
The provider added that it already has a “number of confirmed projects approved” under the Government’s rural gigabit voucher scheme and has a “solid client base built over the past 6 years of service provision.” Air Fibre predicts that “interest is expected to be high in such an acquisition.”
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Actually, I doubt it. A wireless isp or wisp customer is worth 1/3rd of nothing at the moment. The moment a fibre isp comes to an area those customers will move straight to that. Granted 10-17% may stay but that will not be enough to cover the costs of running the network, leaving them loss making. The only value here is in the fibre in the ground, the customers are valueless.
Personal opinion but I would say that WISP has zero value. The fibre train is rolling into town and so many of the customer base will disappear that there’s no way it could stay viable. According to The Gazette, these guys have had a winding up order from hmrc before so the signs aren’t good.
amazing how people so easily choose to forget to check facts and have opinions before common sense. Wireless services are clearly vital in rural areas and even the government has confirmed this by recognising and including wireless operators in the various funded voucher schemes over many years now with rumours that wireless operators are to focus heavily in next years new funding for additional broadband service provision but only time will tell the true tale. Wireless are clearly all seen as an alternative to fibre which is never a bad thing when we now have copper, fibre, 4/5g and wireless operators in the market so always best to check facts. Remember when mobile phones were set to destroy the land line phones? People always need alternatives. I have also looked at gazette and can see winding up action was thrown out so whatever the reason its not relevant to this but people do love to make assumptions dont they. Many know how easy HMRC issues these type of actions so again – checking facts always help. Good luck to any operator as internet requirements and demands are only set to increase so i for one would never rule out a company that can provide an alternative to the fixed landline and all the drama that goes with it
“Remember when mobile phones were set to destroy the land line phones?”
Yes, I remember that well. What I don’t remember is the last time I used a land line since I had reliable mobile coverage. Fibre will do the same to wireless.
Don’t get me wrong, a good WISP has its place but Airfibre have already been losing traction to 4G so it smells very much like a fire sale.
[Admin note: Comment removed following legal complaint]
[Admin note: Comment removed following legal complaint]