Goshawk Update - Isle of Man launch & BT contract

Manx Telecom Plc

Goshawk Update

Isle of Man launch and BT network contract

Manx Telecom Plc (AIM: MANX; the "Company"), the leading communication solutions provider on the Isle of Man, is delighted to provide the following update on its business incubator, Vannin Ventures, and the lead investment in its portfolio, Goshawk Communications ("Goshawk").

After a period of successful development led by Vannin Ventures ("Vannin"), which was established by Manx Telecom as a stand-alone organisation to identify and invest in new products, services and business opportunities as part of the Group's medium-term growth strategy, Goshawk has made substantial progress towards the commercialisation of its hearing loss product on the Isle of Man and beyond.

Goshawk's Isle of Man product launch is due to take place next Wednesday, 19 September, at which point its branding, proposition, and go to market strategy for the Island will be communicated in greater detail. This will be the latest example of the Isle of Man hosting telecoms innovation ahead of its deployment more widely beyond the Island.

Furthermore, Vannin has signed an agreement with BT to leverage its EE mobile network to launch the Goshawk proposition in 2019, as a new Mobile Virtual Network Operator ("MVNO") business, targeting the eleven million UK consumers who experience hearing loss.

Gary Lamb, CEO of Manx Telecom, said: "I'm delighted to be able to announce not just the imminent Isle of Man launch for Goshawk, but also the fact that the proposition will be delivered over the EE mobile network via a multi-channel launch, reaching millions of people in the UK. Goshawk's technology can make a vast improvement to the quality of calls not only for the hard of hearing, but also for every mobile user who is seeking greater call clarity."

Alex Tempest, Managing Director, Wholesale Fixed and MVNO Sales, BT, said: "We are focused on delivering the best fixed and mobile network experience in the UK. Our EE mobile network - which offers the most extensive 4G coverage in the UK - will be underpinning the launch of this truly innovative Goshawk service which will make a huge difference to the lives of so many.  As well as having access to enhanced audio services via their mobile device, customers will also enjoy the unrivalled customer experience of the EE network when using data services. We look forward to launch of the service in 2019, adding another valued partnership to our portfolio as we continue to focus on growing our MVNO customer base."

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About Manx Telecom

Manx Telecom is the leading communication solutions provider on the Isle of Man, providing a wide range of Fixed Line, Broadband, Mobile and Data Centre services to retail, business and public sector customers on the Island, as well as a growing portfolio of innovative hosting and "Smart SIM" solutions to global customers.

The Company focuses on providing outstanding customer experience, high-quality and high-availability networks achieving 99% 4G and 93% superfast fibre broadband population coverage, and consistent first-to-local-market roll-out of new products for homes and businesses.

Manx Telecom is the only operator of a Fixed Line network and is currently investing in state of the art 1 Gbps Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTP) broadband for both its consumer and business customer base. The Company has three data centres, two of which are Tier 3 designed, plus international connectivity, and its operations are business-critical to the economic strategy of the Isle of Man.

One of the Isle of Man's largest employers with around 300 staff, Manx Telecom plays a major role in the wider community through a range of activities including: charitable donations, sponsorships and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Manx Telecom is strengthening its core market position whilst exploring new market opportunities on and off-island, leveraging its telecommunications expertise and mobile technology platform.

Manx Telecom is listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: MANX). www.manxtelecom.com  

About Vannin Ventures

Vannin Ventures is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manx Telecom.  It was formed as a stand-alone business incubator, to support the development and commercialisation of innovations in IoT and the wider telecommunications ecosystem.

Vannin Ventures forms effective relationships with entrepreneurs and growth businesses.  As a flexible development partner and operational investor, Vannin Ventures supports early-stage innovation concepts through their initial development, to pilot launch (with the Isle of Man as an excellent test bed) and full launch, in the UK and international markets. For more information, see www.vanninventures.com