Vodafone Ireland buys Perlico

Vodafone Ireland, the country’s biggest mobile phone company, has bought Perlico, the telecom firm which provides phone and broadband services.

The acquisition of Perlico enables Vodafone to offer consumers a complete range of mobile, fixed line voice and broadband communications services.

Perlico, which was formed in 2002, currently has 62,500 customers, of which 25,000 are broadband customers, and employs 67 people. It will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vodafone, but will continue to operate separately and will retain its brand name.

The company will be run by its existing management team including Iain MacDonald, Perlico’s founder, who will remain as chief executive. Vodafone Ireland chief executive, Charles Butterworth, will become chairman of Perlico’s board of directors.

Existing customers of Perlico will experience no change other than the increased availability of services, combined with the company’s commitment to continue to provide Ireland’s leading, low cost broadband and fixed line communications services.

The deal will give Vodafone access to fixed line phones and broadband services.

Mr Butterworth said: “The acquisition brings Vodafone a significant step closer towards our objective to provide a complete communications service to our customers – including mobile, fixed line voice, broadband and internet services.”

Mr MacDonald added: “We will continue to provide the Irish consumer with the attributes which have made Perlico a success — value, choice and award winning service.”

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper