BAI Communications to acquire digital infrastructure provider ZenFi Networks
BAI Communications (BAI) announced plans to acquire ZenFi Networks, an East Coast-based provider of digital infrastructure solutions and innovator in small cell deployment, offload and roaming services, fiber connectivity and network edge colocation.
This agreement represents a growth opportunity for BAI in North America, building upon its existing connected infrastructure capability and operations in the region driven by BAI Group companies Mobilitie and Transit Wireless. It further progresses the company’s vision to become a leading provider of connected 5G infrastructure across North America and globally. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory clearances and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.
“ZenFi Networks is a long established and high performing player in the wireless infrastructure sector. As an exciting business with longstanding customer relationships and a reputation for driving innovation, bringing it into the BAI Group is an important step forward in our ongoing push for growth in North America and globally,” said Group CEO of BAI Communications Igor Leprince. “In the short-term, it enhances our regional operations in the Northeast, further extending the reach of current solutions and expertise we have and building on our vision to assist our customers in delivering an enhanced experience at all points of their customers’ journey, from subway to above ground and from work to home.”
The deal expands the technical and service offering that BAI will be able to provide to network operators, enterprises and public municipalities with more specialized scalable solutions. With significant fiber connectivity assets, wireless infrastructure solutions including small cells and network colocation facilities across the New York and New Jersey metro areas, ZenFi Networks’ infrastructure is a natural extension of the connectivity solutions that Transit Wireless provides across the New York City subway. The combination of the two offerings, alongside Mobilitie’s 5G outdoor and indoor wireless infrastructure solutions, complements and strengthens BAI’s capability to deliver against its wider 5G growth strategy and become a scale provider across New York and New Jersey, as well as North America.
“We are very excited about this acquisition and joining the BAI Group. The natural alignment between our business and BAI’s North American operations unlocks a range of opportunities to extend the services and support that we are providing our customers, positioning the business to increase its scale and leadership in connected infrastructure delivery,” said Ray LaChance, co-founder and CEO, ZenFi Networks. “Combining ZenFi Networks’ established reputation and relationships in and around New York City and our expertise in fast-growth segments like small cell deployment with the scale and reach that BAI has across North America and globally, creates the perfect platform to capture the increasing 5G and connected infrastructure growth opportunity.”
With a leadership team led by LaChance, ZenFi Networks brings with it a host of long-established customer relationships, including the rights to provide mobile infrastructure solutions across 4,000 LinkNYC kiosk structures across New York City. The acquisition will also bring more than 1,100 route miles of fiber network across the New York and New Jersey metro region, as well as unique C-RAN solutions and several existing customer contracts with enterprise and mobile network operators.
