Rivada Networks, a startup that launched in Ireland but now operates offices in Washington, D.C. and Colorado, announced that former Sprint CFO Joseph Euteneuer will join the company as co-CEO. Rivada sells what it calls its Open Access Wireless Market that the company said allows carriers and others to buy and sell 4G network capacity in real time and in response to market demand, "which results in more efficient use of bandwidth as demand for it continues to grow 50 percent every year."
"We're delighted to have a seasoned wireless, telecom and media veteran such as Joe join our executive team," said Declan Ganley, Co-CEO at Rivada Networks, who helped invent the company's Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage Tiered Priority Access technology with company CTO Clint Smith. "Joe's financial savvy and visionary leadership will help us demonstrate how wireless bandwidth can be bought and sold to enable new technologies and meet consumers' growing bandwidth needs."
Euteneuer joined Sprint as CFO in April 2011 and had previously been CFO of Qwest Communications, which merged with CenturyLink. Euteneuer led Sprint's finances as the carrier undertook its Network Vision network modernization and was acquired by Japanese operator SoftBank. Euteneuer was replaced by Tarek Robbiati, Sprint's current CFO, in 2015 as part of Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure's executive reshuffling.
Euteneuer's appearance at Rivada now is noteworthy considering the company is among those gunning for part of FirstNet's business. The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is working to build a nationwide LTE network for public safety starting around August of 2018. FirstNet expects to name the winner or winners of its network partnership RFP by November of this year. Tier-one wireless operators are likely bidders for FirstNet's RFP, as are aggregators and vendors. Earlier this year, AT&T (NYSE: T) said it planned to aggressively pursue the FirstNet opportunity. Analysts have also pegged Verizon (NYSE: VZ) as a likely partner for FirstNet, while others like Rivada Networks have made it clear that they plan on being part of the process.
Brian Carney, senior vice president in charge of corporate communications at Rivada, told FierceWirelessTech in January that the company is keen on FirstNet's business. "We are definitely bidding," he said. "We like our chances."
Rivada says its technologies enable public safety agencies to retain absolute control over their own dedicated broadband networks while generating revenue from unused capacity when available. Rivada's core technology, Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage Tiered Priority Access (DSATPA), allows public safety to have priority access with instant (millisecond) pre-emption in the event of an emergency situation, guaranteeing first responders access to the bandwidth when they need it most.
And Rivada has been working to bolster its executive ranks, likelyin a move to sweeten its FirstNet bid. Rivada's board includes former deputy secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Michael P. Jackson; General Richard B. Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Admiral Jim Loy, former deputy secretary of Homeland Security; George Foresman, former undersecretary of Homeland Security; and Chris Moore, former chief of police in San Jose, Calif.
For more:
- see this Rivada post
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