UPC Gets Its MAN

Press release
01st May 2008

Ireland and e-net, manager of Ireland’s fibre-optic Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), have signed a seven figure sum, 10 year deal that will enhance UPC’s capacity to connect its triple play bundle to businesses and homes using the MANs in Athlone, Carlow, Portlaoise and Sligo.

The deal provides access to the four towns’ next-generation MANs enabling significant expansion of UPC’s core network. The fibre optic rings allow UPC to build capacity into their network facilitating them in the delivery of high bandwidth, world-class services.

Conal Henry, CEO of e-net commented, “This deal is great news for businesses and residential consumers in Athlone, Carlow, Portlaoise and Sligo. These towns already benefit from their fibre optic MAN, through increased competition between broadband providers, and lower prices. This new deal gives consumers and businesses yet another high quality telecommunications option.”

“This deal further underscores the importance of MANs network to the development of the next generation communications in Ireland. Already more than 600,000 consumers are using the MANs daily and this deal will increase that number further”.

Robert Dunn, CEO of UPC Ireland added, “This partnership demonstrates UPC’s drive and ambition to stimulate the rollout of advanced technologies to support local consumers and businesses. Consumers will realise the benefits of increased competition in each locality as they receive higher broadband speeds at a lower price.”