The regional network operator, developer of the UK’s largest WiMAX-class broadband network, appoints new Board members
Telabria, the award-winning UK regional network operator, has secured a first round of funding in excess of £1m ($1.8m) from private and institutional sources. The funding will be used to develop the company’s WiMAX-class wireless broadband network
delivering data and voice services to residential and business customers in South East England. “Telabria has a rapid growth plan,” said Charles Blount, Chief Financial Officer. “This round will allow us to expand our wireless network services and develop our products to meet increasing demand.” The company plans to raise further funds in the coming months.
An early member of the WiMAX Forum, an industry body promoting wireless broadband technology, Telabria announced plans in November 2004 to deploy wide area WiMAX-based networks to provide business-class wireless broadband
services for data and voice. Since that time, Telabria has been constructing a high-capacity backbone of fiber and licensed band microwave links that currently encompasses over 1,300 square kilometers, making it one of the largest WiMAX-class network deployments in Europe. Telabria also
develops and manufactures wireless mesh radio equipment for metropolitan Wi-Fi networks, and public transportation applications providing Wi-Fi access over cellular 3G networks.
One of the participants in Telabria’s initial round is Faroese Telecom (FT), the national carrier of the Faroe Islands. FT delivers nationwide fixed and mobile GRPS/EDGE telephony and DSL broadband services, as well as digital terrestrial television (DTT). More recently, FT acquired a national 3.5GHz
spectrum for delivery of WiMAX-class wireless broadband services. “Our investment in Telabria reflects our belief that WiMAX has a significant role to play in the future of telecommunications,” said Trondur Djurhuus, VP & Chief Development Officer of Faroese Telecom. “We believe Telabria is very well positioned to take full advantage of WiMAX in deploying next-generation broadband services in the UK and we look forward to working with the company closely to make it a success.”
As a result of the investment round, the company has appointed Trondur Djurhuus and Hans Christian Iversen to the Board; Mr. Iversen is a partner at Roland Berger, the London-based strategy consultants, with considerable
experience in large-scale telecom, technology and media company management.