Meet Pure Telecom - the Broadband and Phone provider with a personalised service

Switcher.ie, Ireland's free impartial online and telephone comparison, and switching service, recently interviewed Pure Telecom director Paul Connell to find out a bit more about the company, its values, and future plans in the Irish telecoms market.

Pure Telecom, an Irish owned company, has been providing fixed-line and broadband services to Irish homes since 2002.

The provider recently launched fibre broadband for customers with no landline called Purely Broadband. This service is available to 1.1 million homes and businesses, covering more of Ireland than any other broadband provider.

It also signed a deal with eircom Wholesale meaning Pure Telecom customers will have access to eircom's 1Gbps fiber-to-the-home service.

Customers interested in switching to Pure Telecom can enjoy up to 100Mb unlimited super-fast broadband with no landline or connection fee.

We spoke with Paul Connell, director of Pure Telecom about the history of the company, broadband access in Ireland, and what customers can expect to see in the future.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about Pure Telecom's beginning and how you got to where you are now?

A. We set up Pure Telecom in 2002 with the view of creating a telecoms company that offered personalized service, something we felt was lacking in the industry. We've kept the idea of putting the customer at the heart of what we do, and really that has worked for our business.

We've grown our company from just four people in 2002 to more than 100 now, and we're in a strong position to grow further.

Q. There are a lot of broadband providers out there, what makes you different?

A. Our level of access is unique we can reach more of the country because we're not restricted to any one network and can partner with eircom, BT, Verizon, Colt, Strencom, Magnet anyone in the market. We almost act like a telecom broker, which means we can handpick better deals for our customers.

Our customer service is another element that separates us from the competition it's what we're all about. For example, our average wait time for customers when they call our team is just a matter of seconds. When they call us, they speak to a real person quickly, instead of dealing with layers of automated responses. On the business side, every customer has a named account manager so it's very personalized.

Q. Broadband access in rural areas is a hot topic - can Pure Telecom play a role in closing the digital divide?

A. It's an area that has been unfairly neglected for years, but the signs are positive for the future. Today around half of Ireland has access to high-speed broadband and this is growing all the time. By 2020, most of the country will be covered, and eventually, 100% of the Irish population will be covered as the National Broadband Plan bears fruit.

Previous attempts by the government to improve access in rural Ireland, such as group broadband schemes were well-intentioned but failed to address the core issue. Now, the National Broadband Plan is working to bring internet and high-speed broadband directly into people's homes and offices.

Pure Telecom has seen great success and growth in rural areas throughout Ireland. As we're not restricted by our own network, we can identify the best option for customers based on where they live or work.

Q. Recent research from Switcher.ie highlighted that 31% of Irish adults make phone calls over the internet. What does this mean for the home phone?

A. This finding is unsurprising given the rise in the number of VoIP solutions available now and better access to fast broadband speeds. The research is in line with the feedback we've received from our own customers, both residential and business.

Having said that, the home phone is still important and something most of our customers need. We do cater to those who don't however - we recently launched a new service, Purely Broadband, which provides high-speed broadband to customers who don't have a landline and removes line rental fees. This is ideal for anyone who no longer needs the home phone.

On the other hand, we provide phone-only options as well as the more common combination of both. It's important to get the balance right.

Q. Can you describe Pure Telecom's USPs in one sentence?

Pure Telecom offers customers great value and a bespoke, personalized telecom solution, and we are dedicated to providing the highest levels of service and going the extra mile to keep our customers satisfied.

Q. What can we expect to see from Pure Telecom in the future?

A. We have ambitious growth plans for the future. We are currently investing 2 million to grow our team by 30. Our growth and response from customers to date have put us in a position where we can set and meet these kinds of targets.

We have a recipe that works and one that is in demand in the Irish market, and we are excited about bringing this to even more people across the country.

This article was originally written by Eleanor Rosney, on 04th September 2015, by Switcher.