Airties, a global provider of cloud-based managed Wi-Fi platforms to broadband operators, on July 7 announced that Tony Ball, former chairman of Kabel Deutschland and CEO of BSkyB, and current senior advisor of Providence Equity Partners LLC, will serve as new chairman of the Airties board of directors.
Philippe Alcaras will continue to serve as CEO of Airties. The company concurrently announced that its corporate headquarters is moving to Paris, France to support global expansion plans. The announcements come as part of the completion of the company's acquisition by Providence Equity Partners, a private equity firm specializing in growth-oriented investments in media, communications, education and technology.
“We are excited to embark on this new stage in Airties’ growth, working with Providence as we look to expand our market position and further delight our customers, partners, and employees,” said Alcaras. “We are also particularly fortunate, and grateful, to have Tony Ball serve as chairman of the board. Tony’s established record of leadership within the industry will be invaluable as we seek to accelerate growth globally and serve our worldwide customers."
Broadband operators turn to Airties for the design, implementation, and ongoing optimization of their customers' broadband experience. The company's Smart Wi-Fi portfolio includes: Airties Edge, a smart Wi-Fi software for gateways; Airties Cloud, a cloud-based management platform and its companion app, Airties Vision; and Wi-Fi mesh extenders.
Airties' customers include AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Singtel, Sky, Telia, Telstra, Vodafone, and many others.
The company has been recognized with many prestigious industry awards for its innovative work serving broadband operators, including: "Best Home Wi-Fi Solution Award" from Broadband World Forum; the "Best Wi-Fi Service Provider Solution" and "Best Home Wi-Fi Product" awards from Wi-Fi NOW; "Best-In Home Wi-Fi Network" from Wireless Broadband Alliance; the "Best Broadband Customer Experience" award from Cable & Satellite International; and more.
“Airties is renowned for delivering among the best managed Wi-Fi solutions that enable exceptional end-user experiences to many of the most respected broadband service providers around the world,” said Tony Ball, chairman of the Board at Airties. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside Philippe, and his team, to expand upon that success and explore new business opportunities. Millions of homes rely upon Airties to stay connected, productive, and entertained, and it’s exciting to believe we are still in the early stages of market penetration and global adoption.”