Imagine Communications

{{Short description|Irish internet service provider}} {{distinguish|Imagine Communications Corporation}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} '''Imagine Communications''' is an Irish internet service provider and telecommunications operator, who provide WiMAX, wireless broadband and resell Eircom telecommunications wholesale packages. The company operates in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway and the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/item/17115-wimax-provider-imagine-acqu|title=WiMax provider Imagine acquires Clearwire in Ireland|author=John Kennedy|work=Silicon Republic|accessdate=27 November 2014}}</ref>

==Services== The company was set up as '''GTS Ireland''' on 15 November 1993. Imagine briefly operated the first Irish mobile virtual network, "Cellular 3", which bought airtime from Eircell. A legal challenge ended the arrangement<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/14356-internet-price-wars-begin-a|title=Internet price wars begin as Imagine unveils its WiMax challenge|author=John Kennedy|work=Silicon Republic|accessdate=27 November 2014}}</ref> and Imagine exited the mobile market. The "Cellular 3" name was derived from Imagine's ''de facto'' position as Ireland's third mobile operator at the time; Meteor Mobile Communications, the third physical operator, had yet to be licensed.

Imagine later became the first company to introduce mobile WiMAX technology to Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/16171-ireland-over-reliant-on-3g|title=Ireland over-reliant on 3G broadband, Imagine boss says|author=John Kennedy|work=Silicon Republic|accessdate=27 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/irish/An_Preas-Oifig/Aithisc_an_Taoisigh_2009/Speech_by_the_Taoiseach,_Mr_Brian_Cowen,_T_D_,_at_the_launch_of_Imagine%E2%80%99s_WiMAX_Network,_The_Mansion_House,_Dublin,_Wednesday,_14_October,_2009_at_1pm.html |accessdate=31 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304052023/http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/irish/An_Preas-Oifig/Aithisc_an_Taoisigh_2009/Speech_by_the_Taoiseach%2C_Mr_Brian_Cowen%2C_T_D_%2C_at_the_launch_of_Imagine%E2%80%99s_WiMAX_Network%2C_The_Mansion_House%2C_Dublin%2C_Wednesday%2C_14_October%2C_2009_at_1pm.html |archivedate=4 March 2012 |title=Gov.ie }}</ref> As of 2010, the company provides services to 17,000 businesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/item/17115-wimax-provider-imagine-acqu|title=WiMax provider Imagine acquires Clearwire in Ireland|author=John Kennedy|work=Silicon Republic|accessdate=27 November 2014}}</ref>

Imagine has affiliations with several brands, including Motorola,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.motorola.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=415622|title=Motorola|work=Motorola_US|accessdate=27 November 2014}}</ref> HP,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/14717-get-ready-to-enjoy-wireless|title=Get ready to enjoy wireless freedom|author=John Kennedy|work=Silicon Republic|accessdate=27 November 2014}}</ref> and Intel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intel.com/corporate/europe/emea/irl/intel/spotlight/wimax.htm|title=Intel: Tablet, 2in1, Laptop, Desktop, Smartphone, Server, Embedded|work=Intel|accessdate=27 November 2014}}</ref>

==Related companies== * Clearwire was acquired by Imagine in 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/item/17115-wimax-provider-imagine-acqu|title=WiMax provider Imagine acquires Clearwire in Ireland|author=John Kennedy|work=Silicon Republic|accessdate=27 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0726/breaking24.html|title=Imagine confirms Clearwire acquisition|date=21 October 2012|newspaper=The Irish Times|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021184253/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0726/breaking24.html|archive-date=21 October 2012}}</ref> * Irish Broadband was acquired by Imagine in 2008<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/10450/business/imagines-bolger-buys-irish-broadband-for-47m/|title=Imagine's Bolger buys Irish Broadband for €47m|work=Silicon Republic|date=30 April 2008|accessdate=3 September 2014}}</ref> * Cinergi Telecom was acquired by Imagine in 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-24888791.html|title=Imagine buys its rival Cinergi|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908090859/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-24888791.html|archivedate=8 September 2013 }}</ref> * Subsidiary Gaelic Telecom,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaelictelecom.ie/press17.php|title=Great News for Gaelic Telecom as Imagine Acquires Irish Broadband|date=30 April 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721124239/http://www.gaelictelecom.ie/press17.php|archivedate=21 July 2011|accessdate=31 July 2010}}</ref> which donates a percentage of each bill to a customer's selected GAA club or National school<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaelictelecom.ie/howitworks.php|title=How it Works|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123091233/http://www.gaelictelecom.ie/howitworks.php|archivedate=23 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/scheme-raises-euro250000-120026.html|title=Scheme raises €250,000|work=Irish Examiner|accessdate=27 November 2014|date=17 May 2010}}</ref> * Access Telecom<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/5117640.stm|title=UK – Northern Ireland – Call centre 'to create 300 jobs'|publisher=BBC News|access-date=27 November 2014|date=26 June 2006}}</ref> * Bandwagon (music portal), partially owned as of 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enn.ie/article/9681868.html|title=In the papers 24 April|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726214553/http://www.enn.ie/article/9681868.html|archivedate=26 July 2011|accessdate=31 July 2010}}</ref> * Open Solutions provides network administration and related services<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opensolutions.ie/customers.php|title=Open Solutions|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707043932/http://www.opensolutions.ie/customers.php|archivedate=7 July 2010}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.imagine.ie Official website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20121005114142/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=29251416 Bloomberg Businessweek profile]

Category:Telecommunications companies of the Republic of Ireland Category:Telecommunications in the Republic of Ireland Category:Mobile virtual network operators Category:Companies established in 1993