Pipex speeds up LLU investment plans

Pipex is looking to accelerate its investment in broadband this year by installing its kit in about 100 exchanges over the next 12 months.

When the ISP first announced last summer that it planned to invest in local loop unbundling (LLU) it said that about 60 exchanges would be unbundled in 2006.

Now, though, it's set its sights on 100 exchanges as broadband subscriber numbers continue to storm ahead.

As it stands, Pipex has some 283,000 broadband punters - up 47 per cent on the same time last year. What's more, four in 10 of those punters are also taking voice services from the ISP, helping it to increase revenues.

Indeed, publishing a trading update today, Pipex revealed that revenues have increased by 30 per cent year-on-year as it reports that trading for 2005 is "in line with market expectations".

Pipex also provided a progress report on trials of a WiMAX service it is running in tandem with Airspan Networks at the US-based firm's test facility in Stratford-upon-Avon.

In November, the firm said it was "encouraged" by the trials. Now, though, it's added a little more detail and reports that it is now delivering a 5meg wireless broadband service over a distance of a mile and a bit, and has also successfully carried VoIP calls.

By the summer, Pipex also hopes to begin testing the wireless transmission of TV over the network as well. ®