Hull-based digital infrastructure specialist Connexin has bought out fellow city firm Wisper Broadband.
The undisclosed deal comes as the heavily invested business continues to grow its fibre offering in the region.
It will see Connexin welcome thousands of new customers to its network, with the acquisition bolstering its challenger status in the city.
Wisper was launched in 2013 by IT engineer Michael Foley and electrician Paul Barker, trading from Marfleet Environmental Technology Park, off Hedon Road.
Furqan Alamgir, co-founder and chief executive of Connexin, said: “I would like to thank Mike and Paul from Wisper and we are thrilled to welcome Wisper Broadband and its customers to the Connexin family as we continue to grow our presence in Hull and East Riding.
“As a local company, we are passionate about providing the best online experience to the people of Hull and the surrounding area. Through the acquisition and the roll-out of our own full-fibre network, it brings us another step closer to doing just that, and creating the fairer, more diverse and best-in-class broadband offering that the region has long deserved.”
Connexin was founded in 2006 by University of Hull graduate pals Mr Alamgir and Alex Yeong.
Two years ago it secured £80 million in backing from Whitelam Capital, and late last summer it announced it was to roll out a rival network to KCom, addressing the legacy of long-term public ownership of the network spanning Hull and East Riding – that saw a single private entity emerge when finally sold.
Based on Henry Boot Way, the internet of things and smart city enabler is targeting strong growth, with plans to form a team of 100. In its latest figures, to the year to June 2021, Wisper employed 13 people.
Wisper’s brand will remain for now, with the “forward plan to merge the brands into one,” the company said.
Mr Foley, managing director at Wisper Broadband, said: “Wisper Broadband and Connexin have worked very closely together over the last 10 years and always had a similar objective – to give the city an increased choice in broadband providers.
“As technology has progressed, we have seen a significant increase in the requirement for full fibre and a fairer marketplace within Hull, as such we are extremely excited to join forces with Connexin at such a key time in their fibre rollout. I am confident that over the coming months Connexin will bring the next generation of full fibre to the people of Hull.”
