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Boldyn Networks promoted Marc Rohleder to chief technology officer for the U.S.
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Boldyn is the product of six companies coming together under one name: BAI, Mobilitie, Transit Wireless, ZenFi Networks, Signal Point Systems and Vilicom
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The neutral host provider continues to acquire more companies as it expands its business
Boldyn’s new Chief Technology Officer Marc Rohleder knows a bit about running wireless networks.
He spent time at T-Mobile and AT&T before joining Boldyn Networks about six years ago. His experience in RF engineering runs deep, having overseen technology initiatives in fixed wireless networks and private wireless, among others. At Boldyn, he’s immersed in projects ranging from improving connectivity in New York’s Times Square to expanding coverage for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
Up until Rohleder was named Boldyn’s CTO for the U.S. last week, he’d been serving as vice president of Technology Strategy, so it isn’t a huge change structure-wise. Reporting to U.S. CEO Christos Karmis, he continues to reinforce Boldyn’s leadership in connecting venues, transportation hubs and smart cities.
“We’ll continue to focus on the same technologies that we’ve been focused on,” he told Fierce. “Obviously, we’ve been a technology company since inception," but as networks move beyond traditional DAS, the technologies are getting far more complex.
In the neutral host space, DAS is very much driven by mobile carrier technology. Moving into CBRS neutral host, Boldyn is incorporating things like MOCN (Multi-Operator Core Network). “Obviously, private networks and CBRS is a very large focus for us,” he said.
Boldyn’s traditional verticals are stadiums and arenas in the sports and entertainment space but it’s increasingly serving airports and maritime ports. The pending acquisition of Apogee Telecom expands its presence in higher education institutions. Competitors include the likes of Boingo Wireless, Extenet and American Tower.
To be sure, it’s still building new DAS and upgrading and adding 5G spectrum bands to those systems. However, it’s evolved to provide far more than DAS. Traditionally, Boldyn’s customers were the carriers and while that continues to be the case, it’s now diversifying where the enterprise is increasingly becoming the customer.
Rohleder acknowledged that everyone had very high hopes for private networks five or six years ago and that didn’t come to fruition as quickly as everyone wanted. He sees more traction happening now.
In a report released in early March, Mobile Experts said it expects around 29% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years for private networks in the carpeted enterprise market, which includes offices, schools, hospitals, shopping centers, stadiums, hospitality and event venues. Those are the very spaces where Boldyn operates.
Roping in the rodeo
Boldyn has a lot going on. For some folks, upgrading the transportation system in San Francisco would be enough, but it’s also responsible for that massive network in New York that includes underground tunnels and hundreds of subway stations – not to mention myriad private networks across the country.
“We do like large projects,” Rohleder said. “There’s nothing that’s too big for us.”
Boldyn’s deployment at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas – where rodeos are performed year-round – is noteworthy for its role as a technology showcase.
It encompasses 5G distributed antenna systems (DAS), private CBRS and Wi-Fi 6E. The deployment is said to be one of the most technologically advanced in the live entertainment industry. One of the partners on the project is ASM Global, which boasts a portfolio of venues around the world, spelling opportunity for more business with them.
Speaking of spectrum, more could be in the pipeline.
Last week, the Biden Administration unveiled its National Spectrum Strategy Implementation Plan, which includes further study for the lower 3 GHz band and the 7-8 GHz band. Everyone is waiting to see how much new spectrum will be made on a licensed basis and how much will be shared, similar to the CBRS model.
“Either way, we’ll be ready to support the carriers and those who license the spectrum as well as those who take advantage of the opportunity for shared spectrum,” Rohleder concluded.