Telecoms exec named Net Visionary

31-10-2008

by Deirdre McArdle

Corkman Pat Phelan, co-founder of Cubic Telecom, scooped the overall Net Visionary prize at the Irish Internet Association awards on Thursday night.

Phelan was recognised for his work with Cubic Telecom and the firm's "disruptive" MAXRoam SIM card, which claims to be the world's first universal SIM card, offering favourable country-to-country phone rates anywhere in the world.

The firm's mantra is 'all global calls should be local calls', according to Phelan, who told ENN that Cubic currently has approximately 100,000 customers with a target of hitting 500,000 within the next 18 months. "When we achieve the half million customer milestone, it'll really make the big boys sit up and take notice," said Phelan.

Cubic recently launched US roaming and data roaming capabilities, and has plans to release a white label solution to travel portals, which would enable the portals to launch MAXRoam themselves under their own brand.

Aside from his work with Cubic Telecom, Phelan is an active supporter of young Irish entrepreneurs. His aim is to encourage these entrepreneurs by giving them real-life advice and tips, as well as sharing his wealth of contacts with them.

Phelan told ENN that he was completely taken by surprise to be named Ireland's Net Visionary. "It was totally unexpected. I was on the shortlist of the Best Blogger category and thought I had a good chance of winning that. I didn't even know I was in consideration for the overall prize."

Making the Net Visionary announcement, Maeve Kneafsey, IIA chairperson, said: "Pat Phelan has upset and disrupted the communications and telephony business and technology models. Perhaps that is the true characteristic of a Net Visionary, their ability to disrupt and cause change. We suspect we will need many more Pat Phelans if we are to keep Ireland as ahead in the internet industry."

This year's Irish Internet Association (IIA) awards took place in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, and comprised 17 categories, as well as the overall Net Visionary award. Three new categories were added to the bill this year -- Best Online Exporter, Best Online Business Use of Irish and Best Use of Social Media.

Winners on the night included Michele Neylon of Blacknight Solutions, who picked up the Best Blogger and Internet Marketer awards. Marcus Mac Innes of Pix.ie won the Best Use of Social Media category, while Lulu O'Sullivan of 4giftsdirect.com took home the Best Online Exporter award.

Niall Devine of MyCharity.ie proved a popular winner of both the Innovation Award and the Social Contribution prize, while Brian Fallon of Daft.ie was named the Best Online Trader in Ireland.