What IwayNet does

IwayNet (legal entity: Iway Network Consulting, Inc., DBA: IwayNet Communications Inc.) is a privately-held, locally-owned Internet Service Provider founded in 1997 and headquartered at 781 Northwest Blvd., Suite 101, Columbus, Ohio. The company operates as a full-service ISP offering dial-up internet access (supporting modems up to 56K), dedicated analog/ISDN/leased-line connectivity, commercial web hosting on both UNIX/Linux (Apache, PERL, PHP) and Windows 2000 (IIS 5, ASP, FrontPage) platforms, email services with POP3/SMTP/webmail and spam filtering, domain name registration through a Network Solutions reseller agreement, and static IP addressing. Additional offerings include CGI-BIN scripting access, multimedia streaming, and network/computer consulting services. The company also operates as a licensed reseller of third-party hardware (Cobalt Networks server appliances, Netopia DSL products) and software (Deerfield.com and RhinoSoft utilities including FTP Voyager and Serv-U FTP Server).

The company's customer base spans residential users and business accounts across central Ohio, with stated partnerships with "thousands of Columbus-area businesses, schools, individuals and organizations," including a documented relationship with the Columbus Public School system that awarded IwayNet its "Golden Ruler" honor. The service area covers the Columbus metro (614 area code), Delaware, Lancaster, and Madison County. IwayNet's revenue model is overwhelmingly subscription-recurring, anchored by monthly dial-up ($19.95/month standard), email ($5/month), and web hosting ($15/month) plans, supplemented by one-time setup fees, hardware/software resale margins, and annual domain registration ($25/year). Go-to-market is sales-led via direct phone outreach (614.294.9292) and local referrals rather than digital marketing, and the company maintains no mobile app, no disclosed API, and no integration ecosystem.

From a corporate-structure perspective, IwayNet has remained founder/locally-controlled since incorporation with no disclosed venture capital or private equity investment, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity. A related entity, 781 Resolution, LLC, operates as an internal operational entity (branding appears on the website footer through 2018). The company previously absorbed customers from a defunct ISP called NetSet, and the last visible website copyright notice runs through 2018.

Name

IwayNet

Legal name

Iway Network Consulting, Inc.

Website

https://iwaynet.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IwayNet is a privately-held, Columbus, Ohio-based Internet Service Provider founded in 1997, offering dial-up and dedicated internet access, web hosting, email, and domain services to residential and small-business customers across central Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Internet Service Provider

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural & Regional ISPs (HDAIADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

DSL/Copper-Based ISPs (xDSL Retail Providers) (HDAIADAG), Managed Internet & Value-Added ISP Services (Managed Router/Wi-Fi, Security, Filtering) (HDAIADAJ), Business/Enterprise Fixed Connectivity Providers (SME/Enterprise Broadband) (HDAIABAI)

Keywords

• Internet access services
• Web hosting services
• Email hosting
• Network consulting
• Dial-up internet

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Internet Access Services: Monthly subscription fees for dial-up and dedicated internet access. Includes various service tiers from standard dial-up to full T-1 connections. Revenue from both residential and business accounts.
2. Web Hosting Services: Commercial web hosting including virtual web servers and domain name registration services. Revenue from monthly hosting fees and annual domain registration.
3. Email Services: Email-only accounts and email alias services for personal and business use.
4. Hardware/Software Reseller: Licensed reseller of Cobalt Networks, Netopia, Deerfield.com, and RhinoSoft software and hardware products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

IwayNet is a Columbus, Ohio-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) offering dial-up and dedicated internet access (analog, ISDN, leased line, T-1), web hosting on UNIX/Linux and Windows 2000 platforms, email services with spam filtering, domain registration, multimedia streaming, and internet/network/computer consulting. The company operates local access numbers across the Columbus area and resells third-party hardware (Cobalt Networks, Netopia) and software (Deerfield.com, RhinoSoft).

Product overview

IwayNet is an Internet Service Provider offering dial-up and dedicated internet access, web hosting, and email services primarily to central-Ohio area customers. The core product portfolio includes Dial-up Internet Access supporting modems up to 56K with no busy signal guarantee, Dedicated Internet Access with options ranging from analog to ISDN and leased lines, Web Hosting Services on both UNIX/Linux (Apache, PERL, PHP) and Windows 2000 (IIS 5, ASP, FrontPage) platforms, and Email Services with POP3, SMTP, webmail, and spam filtering. Additional services include Static IP Addressing for business customers, Domain Name Registration through Network Solutions, CGI-BIN access with PERL scripting support, Multimedia Streaming, and Network/Computer Consulting services. IwayNet also operates as a licensed reseller of third-party hardware (Cobalt Networks server appliances, Netopia DSL products) and software (Deerfield.com and RhinoSoft internet utilities). The company provides extensive technical support coverage across multiple operating systems and applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dial-up Internet Access Traditional dial-up internet access service supporting 14.4, 28.8, 33.6, and 56K modem speeds with a guaranteed no-busy-signal service level, targeted at residential customers and small offices in the Columbus, Ohio area.
• Dedicated Internet Access 24-hour continuous internet connection including dedicated analog, ISDN, leased line, and full T-1 options for businesses requiring permanent connectivity.
• Web Hosting Services Web hosting on both UNIX/Linux (Apache, PERL, PHP) and Windows 2000 (IIS 5, ASP, FrontPage) servers with virtual server options under IwayNet's domain or customer-owned domains.
• Email Services Email account services including POP3, SMTP, webmail access, spam filtering with automatic junk folder placement, and email alias forwarding capabilities for personal and business use.
• ISDN Connections Integrated Services Digital Network connections available as 1-channel (64Kbps) or 2-channel (128Kbps) dial-up or dedicated options for higher-speed connectivity.
• Multimedia Streaming Streaming media services for audio and video content delivery over the internet.
• Network and Computer Consulting Professional consulting services for internet, network, and computer-related technology solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guaranteed no busy signal - credit 2 weeks if unable to connect for 10 minutes due to busy signal
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Cobalt NetworksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIwayNet is a licensed reseller for the entire Cobalt Networks product line. Cobalt is a leading developer of network communication and application solutions including the Cobalt RaQ and award-winning Cobalt Qube server appliances.
• Netopia, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIwayNet is a licensed reseller for the entire Netopia product line. Netopia is a market leader in helping small, growing businesses establish their Internet presence with next generation products including Web Site services and high-speed DSL connectivity.
• Deerfield.comminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIwayNet distributes Deerfield.com software and services designed to leverage Internet connectivity. Deerfield is recognized as a leading publisher of Internet software and services.
• RhinoSoftminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIwayNet distributes RhinoSoft award-winning programs including FTP Voyager and Serv-U FTP Server. RhinoSoft specializes in developing Internet software.
• Network SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIwayNet has a reseller agreement through Network Solutions for domain name registrations, entitling customers to a discount versus Network Solutions' normal fee of $35 per year. IwayNet charges a $25 per year fee for Domain Name registrations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Regional players

• altafiber (formerly Cincinnati Bell): altafiber is the incumbent local fiber and telephony provider across southern Ohio and is actively extending fiber into central Ohio. It competes in overlapping geographies for SMB dedicated connectivity (T-1 replacement, fiber, hosted voice) where IwayNet's T-1 and ISDN tiers currently sell.

Direct peers

• GoDaddy: GoDaddy dominates the small-business web hosting, domain registration and email market that IwayNet's hosting and Network Solutions reseller business addresses. It is the principal competitor for any IwayNet customer seeking bundled web presence services.
• Localnet: Localnet is a long-standing independent dial-up and dial-up-plus-broadband ISP serving niche residential and SMB customers in select U.S. markets. It is a useful like-for-like benchmark for IwayNet's operating model, pricing and customer base.
• HostGator / Endurance (Newfold Digital): HostGator provides entry-level shared web hosting and email for SMBs and individuals - the same horizontal segment as IwayNet's $15/month basic Linux/Windows hosting tier - and represents the modern, scaled replacement for IwayNet's hosting product.
• NetZero / United Online: NetZero is one of the original dial-up ISPs in the U.S. and continues to offer low-cost dial-up as well as mobile broadband. It competes head-to-head with IwayNet for the residual dial-up subscriber base and represents a near-clone of IwayNet's core residential proposition.
• EarthLink: EarthLink started as a dial-up ISP, evolved into broadband and now sells fiber, wireless and managed connectivity to consumers and SMBs. IwayNet sells essentially the same dial-up + dedicated + web hosting mix that EarthLink pioneered, making it the closest like-for-like analog for IwayNet's service portfolio and customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• AT&T Internet / AT&T Business: AT&T provides DSL, fiber and wireless business connectivity across Ohio and serves the same Columbus SMB market as IwayNet. Its SMB and SchoolSolutions offerings overlap directly with IwayNet's dedicated access and education-sector accounts.
• Spectrum (Charter Communications): Spectrum is the dominant broadband and SMB connectivity provider in the Columbus metro area and sets the price benchmark for residential and SMB internet against which IwayNet's dial-up and T-1 tiers compete. Any IwayNet pivot to fiber or fixed wireless must compete with Spectrum's existing footprint.
• MegaPath / Windstream Enterprise: Windstream (and the prior MegaPath/Covad assets it absorbed) deliver T-1, DSL, fiber, hosted voice and managed services to SMBs nationwide - the same product bundle that IwayNet's dedicated access, hosting and email suite maps onto. It is the closest large-scale analog for IwayNet's enterprise connectivity ambitions.

Emerging players

• InfoRelay / Rogers Capital (small ISP / hosting operators): Operators like InfoRelay combine hosting, colocation and managed connectivity for SMB and mid-market customers - the same horizontal stack IwayNet sells (hosting on Linux/Windows, email, dedicated access, consulting). They are an indirect comparability peer for IwayNet's hosting and managed connectivity ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IwayNet