Strencom

A new independent ISP has been set up to serve the Internet requirements of corporate clients in Munster.

Cork-based Strencom offers a range of services including Leased Lines, Webfarms, ISDN, Web server requirements, firewalls, and VPNs (Virtual Private Networks).

Strencom founder, Tim Murphy, formerly of Esat, says he believes that businesses in the South have been suffering because of the lack of dedicated ISP services outside Dublin.

"Twelve months ago, there were four or five ISPs in Cork. Now, since IOL and PostGEM have been swallowed up by Esat and Indigo has been swallowed by Eircom, there are far fewer ISPs, but there's more business there than ever before," said Murphy.

He said businesses outside Dublin should not be at a competitive disadvantage due to a lack of technical services in their region. He said that there is only one ISP offering direct leased lines to the Internet in Cork, while 12 provide the same service in Dublin.

Murphy said the main focus of the business will be on providing leased lines to corporate customers, rather than residential customers. Other services will include mail and proxy servers, Web site design, traffic monitoring and network design consultancy.

"Leased lines offer businesses increased bandwidth, security benefits, and faster 'always on' Internet connectivity," said Murphy. "Some companies with moderate to high Internet usage, which are currently connecting through ISDN access, are often faced with expensive and variable telephone bills, whereas leased line connectivity has significant cost efficiencies and is based on a fixed annual charge."

Strencom's own connectivity is provided by Esat, with which it has a peering arrangement, though Murphy said he will be bringing another provider on board within the next three to six months.

"To make the whole thing work, you have to have a second or even third provider. The system has been set up to enable that, so it can be balanced between all of them," explained Murphy.

Funding for the business is through a private investor, though Murphy said there will probably be an additional investment announced in the next few weeks. He hinted that Strencom is in talks with a Government agency.

Murphy spent three years with Esat and was one of the staff to benefit from British Telecom's purchase of Esat. He declined to reveal how much he received in the pay-out.