Who are Imagine Communications Group?

"Imagine is Ireland's No1 Alternative Business Telecoms Provider to Eircom"

- Comreg / Milward Brown SME & Corporate ICT Research March 2010

Established in 1993, Imagine has been at the forefront of the Irish Telecoms market, consistently driving competition and delivering great value to Irish consumers. The Imagine group boasts companies such as Imagine Broadband, Gaelic Telecom, Irish Broadband and Coolwave, enabling us to deliver complete telecoms solutions. The group has a number of offices across the country in Dublin City, Dublin South, Armagh and Cork employing over 300 people.

The Imagine Communications Group is a pan-European communications provider with offices in Ireland, the Netherlands and the USA. We have substantial business operations in Ireland and in a number of countries across Europe with overall network reach extending to Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway and the USA. The group is continually expanding its operations through targeted acquisition and partnerships in the telephony, broadband, mobile and enterprise communications environment in selected European markets and is supported by a number of technology partners operating throughout the UK, mainland Europe and the Far East.

In addition to providing a portfolio of modern communications services directly to retail business and residential customers the group also provides a suite of carrier grade solutions. These include integrated pan-European call-origination services and worldwide call-termination services to European and Global telecoms operators and service providers.

A current strategic focus for the group is the creation of a Pan-European mobile virtual network carrier (MVNC) linking mobile operators in Europe providing seamless roaming services across multiple geographic territories.

In March 2007, Imagine Communications Group acquired CoolWave Communications BV. Based in Amsterdam, this business serves the rapidly growing market for voice, voice-mobile, VoIP, internet, data and fibre services across Europe, Continental US and Asia. CoolWave Communications BV is headquartered in WTC Schipol Airport, Netherlands, and has offices in the Netherlands and the USA.

In April 2008 the Imagine Communications Group acquired Irish Broadband from NTR and Kilsaran Concrete in a move, which enlarged the Group to annualised revenues of over €100m. Following the transaction NTR and Kilsaran hold a combined 25% interest in the enlarged Group. The €47m deal, valued the enlarged Imagine Group at €187m and firmly establishes Imagine as the number 1 alternative provider of communications solutions in Ireland. Imagine acquired the business from NTR and Kilsaran on a debt free basis and NTR and Kilsaran jointly made a further investment of €7m in the Imagine Group in support of the enlarged Imagine Group's strategy. With this acquisition the Imagine Group has acquired substantial network and spectrum assets on a nationwide basis which enhances Imagine's current service offerings and which facilitates the cost-effective deployment of WiMax technology. The acquisition of Irish Broadband is directly complementary to the Imagine Groups strategy of capitalising on emerging WiMax technology, which will allow Next Generation Voice and Data services to be offered to business and residential customers across Ireland.