Telecommunications

One vital ingredient for a small island with global E-Business ambitions is a world-class telecommunications network.

The Island’s infrastructure is world leading thanks to continued investment to the tune of £50m over the last five years alone.

Fast, reliable communications has been vital to the Island in attracting the financial services companies upon which much of its economic strength is based.

The Government has realised that this asset is now key in attractive e-services providers and, with Manx Telecom, has ensured the telecommunications infrastructure provides a best in class fixed and mobile services for both residential and business users.

This summer the Island is also due to switch on an improved 3.5G network (using high speed downlink packet access, HSDPA) which will bring even faster download speeds to mobile devices.

At the same time a voice over IP system is to be rolled out and ‘blended’ with the 3.5G network, allowing businesses and residents to receive voice and data communications at, initially, 3.6Mbps on mobile devices.

Manx Telecom was part of British Telecom but was spun out with the latter’s mobile division, which is now called O2.

The company has equipped the Island with a fibre optic ‘self-healing ring’ which means the Island has two separate cables linking it to UK via Ireland. If one has a problem, the traffic instantaneously reroutes in the opposite direction. Cable and Wireless are also licensed and provide a second self healing ring. The primary link to the UK alone, can handle a staggering 1.2 terrabits of information at any one time. That is equivalent to ten times the normal North Atlantic web traffic.

Manx Telecom has also set up three hubs to the world wide web to ensure connections are ultra reliable and has even installed anti denial of service systems. As if to underline the Island’s commitment to best of breed communications, all households can be connected to broadband for free (individuals then need to pay a monthly fee for the service).

Hosting Competencies

The Island has an abundance of hosting factilites, major players in this sector include Manx Telecom , Domicilium and Netcetera.

From Internet access to advanced solutions such as web hosting, e-commerce and intergrated communications services, both companies offer a full spectrum of IP solutions to support clients looking to re-locate their e-business to the Isle of Man.

Manx Telecom, Domicilium and Netcetra provide Gaming companies with the peace of mind of knowing that their applications will be fully available round the clock, allowing them to get on with the running their business.