UPC boosts WiFi footprint nationwide with acquisition of Bitbuzz

Dublin, Ireland - Thursday 4th December, 2014. UPC Business, Ireland’s leading provider of connected communications to businesses nationwide has acquired Ireland’s leading WiFi operator Bitbuzz.

The move further strengthens UPC’s presence in the hospitality, health and education markets. Bitbuzz, is a WiFi network operator providing a range of managed services to hotels, airports, café bars, pubs and other public locations throughout Ireland and the UK. Terms were not disclosed.
UPC Business is the leading national provider of integrated business communications ranging from Metro Ethernet services for large enterprises and the public sector up to 100Gbps, Internet connectivity up to 10Gbps and superfast broadband and telephony services for the small office and home office market

UPC’s VP of Business Services, Gavan Smyth said, “This is a first step in our plans to expand UPC’s services in the business market by adding value added services that complement our high speed broadband services. Bitbuzz is a successful and innovative Irish company specialising in WiFi communications. This acquisition makes an excellent strategic combination and compliments our extensive range of fibre powered business broadband and communications services. This will enable UPC Business to further expand our services across the hospitality, education and health industries. “I also want to congratulate the fantastic management and staff at Bitbuzz for their continuing success and I look forward to working with them as we start the next phase of our growth together.”

Shane Deasy, Managing Director of Bitbuzz said: "This is a very positive development for Bitbuzz, all our clients and staff. The combination of our two businesses will enable Bitbuzz customers to benefit from UPC's expertise, services and global reach. Our widespread WiFi network will also expand into new market sectors as we step forward into the future with UPC Business. By joining together, we will share our collective strengths and enhance our overall services for customers while retaining a strong identity."

About Bitbuzz

Bitbuzz is a Wi-Fi network operator providing a range of managed services to hotels, airports, café bars, pubs and other public locations throughout Ireland and the UK. Bitbuzz was founded in Dublin in 2003 and soon became Ireland's best Wi-Fi network, according to a survey by Espion Research. It expanded into the UK market in early 2008 and in 2010 opened a dedicated office in London. Bitbuzz offers a range of services to the hospitality and foodservice industry as well as roaming solutions to foreign network operators.

About UPC Business

UPC Business is the leading national provider of integrated business communications ranging from Metro Ethernet services up to 100Gbps, Internet connectivity up to 10Gbps and broadband services for the small office and home office market. UPC Business offers the complete spectrum of business communications products through the UPC high capacity fibre network. Services include Carrier Ethernet, Metro Ethernet connectivity, co-location, SIP and TDM voice services, leased lines, managed bandwidth and direct internet access. UPC is one of the largest business-to-business communications providers in Ireland with a strong presence in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and 17 regional towns.

About Liberty Global

UPC parent company Liberty Global is the world’s largest international cable company with operations in 14 countries. We connect people to the digital world and enable them to discover and experience its endless possibilities. Our market-leading services are provided through next-generation networks and innovative technology platforms that, when combined with those of Ziggo N.V., connected 27 million customers subscribing to 56 million television, broadband internet and telephony services at September 30, 2014.

Liberty Global's consumer brands include Virgin Media, UPC, Ziggo, Unitymedia, Kabel BW, Telenet and VTR. Our operations also include Liberty Global Business Services, our commercial division, and Liberty Global Ventures, our investment fund.

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