The man said to have introduced the island’s first dial-up internet service has retired 40 years to the day after starting work with Manx Telecom as an apprentice.

Graham Shimmin was said by the company to have played a ’significant role’ in the company during an era of revolutionary advances in communications technology.

He was appointed as head of wholesale in 2015 and played a leading role in the company’s roll-out of FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), the latest generation of broadband technology.

Mr Shimmin started work with the forerunner of the company on December 3, 1979.

After completing a three-year apprenticeship in 1982 he became an exchange engineer, a phase in his career during which electro-mechanical telephone exchanges were replaced with electronic systems. Digital technology was introduced when Mr Shimmin was clerk of works for the GSM mobile network, and during that time he made the first mobile phone call over the Manx Telecom network.

As clerk of works he also played a key role in the conversion of all the island’s exchanges to digital units.

In 1998 Mr Shimmin moved from engineering to the commercial side of the business becoming a product manager at the dawn of the internet age, and later became head of retail products.

A spokesman said: ’His many achievements include introducing the island’s first dial-up internet services and the @manx.net email platform.’

During his career Mr Shimmin has seen the island’s telecommunications network run as part of British Telecom’s Liverpool region in the 1980s, the launch of Manx Telecom in 1987, and the company’s growing international presence.

Mr Shimmin said: ’As head of wholesale I looked after the access services that all the island’s retail communications providers utilise. In early 2018 we started our roll-out of FTTP and I also played a part in shaping the Isle of Man’s National Broadband Plan.

’I’ve seen many changes and it’s never a ’’good’’ time to leave the industry as there are always exciting times ahead.

’I wish everyone good luck with the next phase of the fibre roll-out.’

Gary Lamb, chief executive, Manx Telecom, said: ’Forty years of loyal service to one business is a remarkable achievement and I would like to extend huge thanks to Graham for his magnificent contribution.

’Graham is one of those people who are passionate about what they do, and without doubt he has played a significant role in enabling Manx Telecom to become a successful company.’

Peter Callow, commercial operations director at Manx Telecom’s business incubator Vannin Ventures (a business incubator is a company that helps new and start-up companies to develop), has been appointed as Mr Shimmin’s successor as head of wholesale.

Mr Callow started his career at Manx Telecom in 1996 in the marketing department and since then has performed a number of commercial roles in the company covering roaming, interconnect and wholesale.

In 2016 he and Tom Meageen, Vannin Ventures’ chief executive officer, established Manx Telecom’s business incubator to identify new business opportunities in the telecom tech sector and to bring innovative products and services to market.