LONDON, 13 June 2023: BAI Communications (BAI), soon to rebrand as Boldyn Networks in the Northern Hemisphere, today announced it is establishing its global headquarters in the UK. With presence in three continents, Boldyn Networks will operate independently from the Australian business which will continue to operate as BAI Australia.

The news follows BAI’s announcement to bring together its businesses in the UK and Europe and portfolio companies Mobilitie, Signal Point Systems, Transit Wireless, ZenFi Networks, and Vilicom under its new brand Boldyn Networks from the end of June 2023. The combined companies represent one of the world’s largest shared network infrastructure providers in the transport, venue, military, real estate, enterprise, and public sectors.

Establishing its headquarters in the UK positions the leading global neutral host provider in a strategic location to continue with its ambitious growth plans in North America and Europe, backed by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments).

Igor Leprince, Group CEO of soon to be Boldyn Networks, said: “Establishing our headquarters in the UK marks the start of an exciting new journey as we begin operating as Boldyn Networks. Being based in one of the world’s leading economies will allow us to accelerate our growth plans and further boost opportunities for our customers and for highly skilled experts who want to be part of our ongoing global expansion.”

“We believe the neutral host model is the answer to building an interconnected future which supports operators, cities, and governments in deploying connectivity in the most efficient and sustainable way, creating a smarter, safer future.” Mr Leprince added.

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade, said: “Bringing international companies and multi-million-dollar investment into the UK is one of my top priorities, and this announcement will help our plan to grow the UK economy and create jobs.”

“Having Boldyn Networks’ global HQ come to the UK is a great boost for our ambitions to support businesses across the UK with access to advanced high-speed connectivity and the wider economic benefits this brings.”

In the UK alone, the company has multiplied its workforce by 10 in the last two years and created close to 800 direct and indirect jobs, as it continues its anticipated investment of over £1 billion across the life of its concession with Transport for London (TfL).

It is behind some massive infrastructure projects including full mobile connectivity to Hornsea 2, the world’s largest wind farm that powers 1.4 million homes and a 5G private network for the world’s largest ‘living lab’ for offshore wind that’s being developed in the Humber. It’s also in the process of rolling out full fibre installations across numerous London boroughs and the installation of a mobile coverage solution for the iconic 40 Leadenhall development, and many other venues across the UK.

Through its 20-year concession with TfL, the shared infrastructure leader is building a backbone of new fibre and wireless connectivity across the capital. This neutral host network will deliver 4G and 5G mobile connectivity across the London Underground, providing customers with access to high-speed coverage in 137 stations, platforms, and 400kms of tunnels. The concession includes building and operating the emergency services network in the tube.

This network will also utilise TfL’s streetscapes, including lampposts, and bus shelters to drive improvements in street level mobile connectivity and smart city applications such as traffic and air quality management. This project already represents 1.3 million hours of work in the capital city.

The company also has a 20-year partnership with Sunderland City Council to build a 5G advanced wireless infrastructure, creating the UK’s most advanced smart city. It is providing an extensive public Wi-Fi network and working on the development of smart sensors for safer roads, and pilots around ‘smart fill bins’. The partnership includes working with The University of Sunderland to develop one of the country’s first 5G universities.

These projects highlight the increasing focus on improving the UK’s wireless digital infrastructure to enable economic growth, in line with the UK government’s new Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, which identifies the key role neutral host providers play in delivering the widespread adoption of 5G. A recent report by the UK 5G Innovation Network, commissioned by Digital Catapult, estimated that the UK private cellular networks market could grow from £50 Million in 2022 to £1 Billion in 2030.2

The upcoming Boldyn Networks has secured many other multi-year partnerships for infrastructure deployments around the world. Significant projects include:

• Long-term agreements with transit authorities to deliver connected solutions for subway systems in New York, Hong Kong and San Francisco. Covering nearly 1,000 stations in a total of 6 major transit systems around the world with innovative infrastructure deployments.

• Connecting a thousand large public venues like sports and event stadiums, entertainment and hospitality complexes, healthcare, and commercial buildings worldwide.

• Helping close the digital divide by deploying the largest free outdoor public Wi-Fi network in the US through the Link project that will include 4,000 Link kiosks in NYC.

• Providing connectivity deployments to 75 U.S. military bases with the rights to deploy 40 more.

• The Italy operation is the catalyst for a ‘5G for Rome’ investment – aimed at equipping Rome with a best-in-class 5G/Wi-Fi/IoT network in all main public city places, for a digital, safe, and sustainable city.