Zen Internet celebrates 30 years as UK’s longest-standing independent ISP
Zen Internet, a B Corp certified business, celebrated its 30th anniversary on Friday at its headquarters in Rochdale. The company, which officially opened for business on October 13, 1995, was founded by brothers Richard and Daniel Tang and has become the UK’s longest-standing independent Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Richard Tang, Zen’s CEO, started the company with just £5,000, a few Linux PCs, and six dial-up modems on an Ikea shelf. Over the years, the company has grown from a two-person start-up to one of the UK’s leading independent ISPs, employing over 650 people and serving businesses and consumers nationwide.
“It’s a testament to our longevity that we are the UK’s oldest ISP,” said Tang. “All our main competitors when we started have long since disappeared – yet we’re still here, stronger than ever, and still independent.”
Zen’s story began in 1995 when Richard Tang, then a software engineer, first heard about the Internet over a pint in a local pub. He asked his brother if he wanted to start an Internet provider, and Zen was born. By October of that year, the pair had launched their first £10-a-month dial-up service, created from Richard Tang’s kitchen table. The service could support six simultaneous users, sharing just 64 kbps of bandwidth.
In 1998, Zen turned its first profit, and by the early 2000s, it was riding the broadband wave. The company doubled its turnover year-on-year and expanded rapidly across the UK. Zen’s story is not just about technology but also about the North West’s role in the UK’s digital economy. From its Rochdale base, the company has proved that innovation and resilience can thrive outside London, putting Greater Manchester on the map as a hub for connectivity and digital services.
Tang’s decision to base Zen in Rochdale helped the company stand out from its competitors. “It gave us space to grow,” Tang said. “We wanted to do things differently, and being outside the London bubble was part of that.”
Over the last 30 years, Zen has evolved alongside constant technological change and the Internet itself – transitioning from dial-up to broadband and fibre services – while staying true to its independent roots. Reflecting on the company’s journey and looking ahead, Tang said: “When I started Zen, I could never have imagined how transformational the Internet would become. The fact that we’re still here 30 years later – thriving, independent, and making a positive impact – is beyond my wildest dreams.”
“Zen remains proudly independent. I’ve seen so many of my peers sell up, but that’s never been my goal,” he continued. “Zen exists to do right by people and the planet. Money is just the fuel to make that happen.” This ethos underpins Zen’s B Corp certification, achieved in 2020, which recognizes the company’s social and environmental responsibility. From carbon reduction initiatives to employee empowerment, Zen continues to lead by example in how a tech company can balance profit with purpose.
To mark its 30th anniversary, Zen commissioned new research exploring how Britain’s relationship with the Internet has evolved – from floppy disks and dial-up tones to TikTok and AI. The company’s “Boomers vs Zoomers” study revealed that 31% of Brits remember floppy disks as their first way to access the Internet, while a third of 18-year-olds have no idea what a floppy disk even is. Four in ten say YouTube or Facebook were their first online obsessions, while almost a quarter recall buying clothes as their first online purchase.
When asked what they miss most about the early days, Brits cited “simplicity” – a contrast to today’s always-on, endlessly scrolling digital world. Yet, despite changing habits, the Internet’s role in modern life has never been more vital. A third of people said they couldn’t live without it, with top reasons including entertainment (60%), reconnecting with friends (54%), and learning or upskilling (35%).
“We’ve been there since the very beginning of the UK Internet, which has come from nowhere to become a critical part of our lives,” said Tang. “What’s clear is that while platforms change, the human drive for connection and creativity has remained the same. The next 30 years promise to be even more transformative.”
Looking ahead, a third of Brits believe that robots will take over household chores, and driverless cars will be commonplace within 30 years – predictions Tang thinks will arrive much sooner. “I’d say both within the next 15 years,” he added. “And what all these advances will rely on is strong, secure, and reliable connectivity – exactly what Zen was built to provide.”
For more on Zen Internet’s 30-year journey, visit Zen Internet: 30 Years. Key milestones in Zen Internet
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.