By James Blackman
IoT connectivity provider Kajeet has acquired network design consultancy Red Rover, specialising in supply of LTE connectivity to ‘community and educational’ outlets, to launch a new private LTE networks practice. The acquisition fee has not been disclosed.
Kajeet, which has been supplying wireless connectivity and componentry to schools and students, as well as to enterprises and local government, said it will use the “LTE portion of Red Rover’s business” to sell private LTE solutions in the 3.55-3.7 GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band and 2.5 GHz Educational Broadband Service (EBS) band in the US, alongside “other frequencies”.
Maryland-based Kajeet, previously a “kid-friendly” prepay mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), with airtime licences with Sprint and Verizon in the US, has repositioned itself over the past five years as a regional provider of LTE broadband and IoT services. The new deal with “a portion of” Red Rover, whose website now redirects to Kajeet, will expand its offer to cover private LTE for school districts and local government, as well as to a broader range of private enterprises, including factories and distribution centres.
Kajeet has taken on Steve Rovarino, former president of Red Rover, as senior business development manager of the new private LTE practice. A statement said: “Whether it’s a school district trying to close the homework gap, a factory or distribution center needing connectivity to monitor and track assets, or a municipality looking for ways to enhance citizens’ lives through technology, Kajeet delivers the right network solution to fit any connectivity need.”
Senior vice president and general manager of education at Kajeet, Michael Flood said: “For more than 10 years, Kajeet has helped school districts, communities, and enterprises close the digital divide through safe and reliable commercial LTE networks. Acquiring the LTE portion of Red Rover’s business enables us to further our mission of digital inclusion and deliver the best of both commercial and private LTE networks to customers.”
Rovarino has worked in the private LTE industry for eight years, a press statement said, including with K-12 schools, universities, and communities. He commented: “Becoming part of the Kajeet team creates tremendous value for our customers who benefit from industry-leading commercial and private LTE network connectivity solutions and expertise. I’m excited to join the Kajeet team and look forward to closing the connectivity gap together.”
Kajeet claims to offer a “scalable IoT management platform”, called Sentinel, providing visibility into data usage, policy control management, custom content filters for added security and multi-network flexibility. It offers “hybrid and multi-network access across all major North American wireless networks, globally in 24 other countries, and on multiple licensed and unlicensed networks”, it says.
