Internet Watch Foundation

PIPEX is underlining its commitment to Internet security and the need to combat illegal content online by becoming a member of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

 

Since establishing itself as the UK’s first commercial ISP in 1991, PIPEX has always promoted only safe and legal use of the Internet – whether for residential or business purposes. As one of today’s top five business broadband providers, PIPEX is joining the IWF to strengthen its stance on illegal content and, in turn, is helping to raise awareness of these types of offences.

 

The IWF works with ISPs, telecommunications and software companies and Content Service Providers (CSPs) to reduce the availability of images of child abuse images, criminally obscene and racist content. It influences and develops initiatives and programmes to combat online abuse, in partnership with UK Government departments, such as the Home Office and the Department of Trade and Industry.

 

With help from its partners, the IWF has reduced the amount of illegal content hosted in the UK from 18 per cent in 1997 to less than one per cent in 2003. Its ‘Hotline’ reporting system provides a facility for members of the public to report their exposure to illegal content online. The IWF alerts ISPs whose services are being used to host this content and passes on relevant details to Law Enforcement Agencies.

 

Mike Read, CEO of PIPEX, comments, “We are committed to helping all of our customers enjoy and benefit from using the Internet, securely and safely. Working closely with partners such as the Internet Watch Foundation, we are campaigning for an industry-wide commitment to further reductions in unsafe and unlawful practices.”

 

Peter Robbins, CEO at IWF, adds, “IWF’s partnerships with key players in the industry reflects the support from a diverse range of organisations which are all keen to play their part in combating potentially illegal online material. As one of the country’s leading ISPs, we embrace our new partnership with PIPEX and look forward to working with the company on a range of pro-active measures to help protect their services and ensure a safer online environment for their customers.”

 

 

 

PIPEX is one of the UK’s leading telecom network operators and provider of broadband solutions combining the best infrastructure, services, support and people to make communication simple for business. As a highly respected tier one Internet Service Provider (ISP), PIPEX provides both voice and data connectivity solutions, helping organisations to keep their lines of communication open.

Established in 1991, PIPEX was the UK's first commercial ISP to offer affordable, high speed, high quality corporate Internet access. PIPEX has an enviable customer list, ranging from SMEs to blue chip companies and including the majority of the UK’s top 100 companies (as listed by The Times).

 

PIPEX owns one of the UK’s most extensive communication networks, with data centres in London, Manchester, Nottingham and Leeds and over 100 Points of Presence (PoPs) nation-wide. This includes 20 point-to-multi-point radio PoPs offering wireless DSL. To ensure that its customers’ network traffic is always routed via the fastest, most resilient path, PIPEX has over 200 public and private peering arrangements with large Internet backbone providers, including the London Internet Exchange.

 

In August 2004, PIPEX further strengthened its offering with the acquisition of AccentUK Limited - which trades as Nildram - one of the UK's leading independent broadband internet service providers. This follows the acquisition of Host Europe, a leading provider of hosting products and services to SMEs in the UK and Germany, in May 2004. PIPEX has acquired six companies since the acquisition of GX Networks in October 2002, confirming the company’s position as one of the UK’s top five ADSL broadband suppliers.

 

For further information please visit www.pipex.net

 

 

Lisa Brearley

Berkeley Public Relations

Tel : 01629 826942

Email: lisab@berkeleyprnorth.co.uk

Or

Dana Loftus

PIPEX Communications Hosting Ltd

Tel : 01865 381587

Email: dana.loftus@pipex.net