WeLink secures $185m funding to revolutionize Ultra-High Speed Wireless Broadband
WeLink, a rapidly-growing, next-generation fixed-wireless broadband provider, has announced a $185 million investment from Digital Alpha Advisors to expand to new markets across the United States.
WeLink provides industry-leading, high-speed broadband access to homes and businesses at up to gigabit speeds, connecting the unconnected and expanding and improving access.
“More than 77 percent of US consumers have only one choice of broadband provider when they want internet access speeds faster than 100 Mbps,” said Kevin Ross, CEO, WeLink. “WeLink is addressing this challenge by expanding our fairly-priced, fixed-wireless broadband solution to new markets, giving consumers greater freedom of choice in broadband access scaling to gigabit speeds. This is even more important today as the COVID pandemic has changed the balance of work and school from home”
Founded in 2018 by wireless industry veterans Kevin Ross and Ahsan Naim, WeLink delivers broadband internet to homes and businesses using a unique fixed-wireless approach that is much quicker and less expensive to deploy than traditional fiber-to-the-home. WeLink extends the reach of fiber into residential and commercial areas using the latest advances in millimeter wave (mmWave) technology (one of the key wireless technologies used as part of 5G), 802.11ay silicon, and modern network routing approaches such as Open/R to deliver quality of experience that has not been achievable using legacy wireless technologies.
Digital Alpha, a premier alternative asset manager focused on digital infrastructure, will make a $185 million investment that includes a unique outcome-based financing structure that will fuel network expansion and subscriber acquisition. This will enable WeLink to accelerate its plans to grow its current footprint in the Las Vegas metro area and also to expand into two additional metro areas, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, in Q2 2021, with seven additional markets slated for future launches. Digital Alpha’s investment also enables new partnership opportunities with Cisco, one of Digital Alpha’s key partners.
“The WeLink team stands out for their experience in wireless access,” said Rick Shrotri, Founder and Managing Partner, Digital Alpha Advisors. “WeLink offers an industry-leading approach to deliver next generation connectivity to customers in select markets across America. Given Digital Alpha’s strong focus on next generation networking, including 5G solutions, we are pleased to offer a unique outcome-based financing solution, which along with a strategic Cisco partnership, will provide fuel for WeLink’s expansion.”
“We’re thrilled to take this next step with WeLink to enable the future of fixed-wireless broadband,” said John Chapman, Cisco Fellow and CTO, Cisco’s Broadband business. “Their approach of using fixed-wireless to provide high-speed broadband internet access helps to drive digital transformation and accelerate an inclusive future for all.”
With this investment, Digital Alpha will become the leading outside investor in WeLink and has appointed Rick Shrotri and Neil Sheridan to the board, bringing decades of technology and telecommunications experience.
