Ice Broadband, the regional wireless broadband provider owned by former FAI chief exective Fran Rooney’s daughter Yvonne, has been acquired by up-and-coming regional broadband player Ripplecom for an undisclosed sum.
The acquiring company says it is now active in 13 counties across Ireland and plans to double its workforce from 14 to 28 full-time people.
In March, it emerged a liquidator had been appointed to Ice Communications Limited after the Collector General filed a petition with the High Court over unpaid taxes. The most recent accounts filed by Ice Communications showed losses of €3.8m to the end of 2007.
It emerged this evening that Limerick-based wireless broadband provider Ripplecom has bought the assets of Ice Communications.
Wireless network infrastructure in 13 counties
In addition to the customer base, the acquisition includes the entire Wireless Network Infrastructure of ICE located in 13 counties, (namely Dublin, Louth, Kildare, Wicklow, Monaghan, Carlow, Kilkenny, Westmeath, Offaly, Laois, Tipperary, Meath and Limerick) and key relationships with data centres and resilient fibre network providers.
Commenting on the bolt-on acquisition, John Regan, head of sales and marketing at Ripplecom who recently joined the company from his position as BT sales manager said: “The acquisition of the ICE infrastructure and customer base has significantly increased our market presence and positions Ripplecom as the primary provider of wireless broadband services to both business and residential customers.
“Our aim is to expand our customer base over the coming months by offering competitively priced broadband and VoIP solutions to our customer base.”
Regan added that the company plans to double its workforce by the end of 2010 by growing its customer base, expanding services and partnering with other industry leaders to provide best-of-breed innovative services.
Ripplecom began trading in late 2009 following the merger of two Irish wireless internet service providers, Amocom and Callidus/Omnitel.
It operates from its headquarters in Raheen, Limerick, and has regional offices in Dublin and Cork.
By John Kennedy
Photo: Ripplecom, which recently acquired Ice Broadband assets, is seeking to double its workforce by the end of the year
