Bitspiration Booster is a VC fund investing in early-stage science and technology ventures startups based in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region. We recognize that innovation is not evenly distributed, invest in global collaboration and partnerships, and provide long-term support from our team of experienced operator-investors.

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IS-Wireless

IS-Wireless develops and delivers 4G and 5G mobile networks supporting more users with better performance at lower cost by applying cutting edge technologies. The company is a provider of software and hardware necessary for building 4G and 5G networks in the scope of both RAN and Core. IS-Wireless participates in the Open RAN revolution and expects significant changes in the way networks are built and deployed in the coming years. The company has been recognized as one of a few European RAN vendors by leading telco operators including Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telecom Italia (TIM), Telefónica and Vodafone in their November 2021 report “BUILDING AN OPEN RAN ECOSYSTEM FOR EUROPE”.

IS-Wireless is a Polish company that develops and delivers 4G and 5G mobile network software solutions based on the Open RAN model. The company specializes in Radio Access Network (RAN) software and offers products such as the O-CU (Open Centralized Unit), O-DU (Open Distributed Unit), and RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller). By collaborating with multiple hardware partners, IS-Wireless can provide complete end-to-end mobile networks suitable for both private and large-scale deployments.

Wireless and VMware Collaboration Yields New O

Poland’s first Open RAN 5G network for industry 4.0 built using local solutions

Wireless joins "5G for Poland" agreement

Wireless steps into Europe's open RAN void

Wireless: Massive MIMO is 'a battlefield for closed RAN'

Wireless #5GMadeTogether

Future Telco Networks in the Open RAN Model from Poland

Poland pilots first Open RAN

A new generation for mobile connectivity with 5G and beyond

Next-gen Mobile Networks

CampusDynA Selects IS-Wireless to Deploy Industry 4.0 5G Network in Berlin

IS-Wireless is a Polish company that develops and delivers 4G and 5G mobile network software solutions based on the Open RAN model. The company specializes in Radio Access Network (RAN) software and offers products such as the O-CU (Open Centralized Unit), O-DU (Open Distributed Unit), and RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller). By collaborating with multiple hardware partners, IS-Wireless can provide complete end-to-end mobile networks suitable for both private and large-scale deployments.
The company's Liquid RAN product line enables the deployment of dense networks with low-power Radio Units at street corners and within buildings to meet the 1000x capacity requirement for future networks. The RRM (Radio Resource Management) algorithms running on the RIC can handle interference and manage QoS in both ultra-dense and macro networks. IS-Wireless has been involved in 5G research under EU programs since 2012 and cooperates with leading domestic and foreign research institutions.
One of the key advantages of IS-Wireless' solutions is their ability to disaggregate the RAN software stack into smaller elements, allowing for greater flexibility and portability across various hardware platforms. This "liquid" approach enables the deployment of RAN functions on existing compute resources, such as customer servers, potentially reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
In May 2023, IS-Wireless, in collaboration with hubraum (Deutsche Telekom's tech incubator), Benetel, and T-Mobile, deployed Poland's first Open RAN-enabled 5G private network at the Hub4Industry in the Astor Robotics Center in Krakow. This network showcased the company's RAN software integrated with Benetel's radio units and T-Mobile's mobile core platform.

3Red8, now known as ZB8 Infra, is an infrastructure company focused on constructing a nationwide fiber optic network across the US. Their mission is to build core internet infrastructure, enabling the next generation of digital technologies such as AI, autonomous vehicles, 5G/6G, IoT, smart grids, and more. ZB8 Infra's innovative approach involves creating a sustainable, high-capacity, diverse, and secure national fiber network that ensures secure, faster, and more reliable end-to-end data transport solutions compared to legacy networks.
The company's network architecture follows a "triple-redundant, figure-eight" design, ensuring resilience and top-tier performance. If one path encounters issues, the other two seamlessly maintain data flow. This groundbreaking network aims to reduce the nation's digital divide by providing affordable connectivity to underserved communities along its routes.
ZB8 Infra's Phase 1 network build, spanning approximately 335 miles from Ashburn to Virginia Beach, is set to commence construction in the summer of 2024. This initial phase will strategically link Virginia Beach cable landing assets, the Richmond Network Access Point (NAP), and the Ashburn data center hub, with an expected completion date of Q1 2026.
In April 2024, the company announced its evolution from a fiber optic transport network to a national digital infrastructure solution, prioritizing redundancy and diversity for various stakeholders seeking secure, direct connections. ZB8 Infra's network incorporates the latest fiber technology, integrating sensor, measurement, and AI technologies during construction.

3Red8

Aarna Networks is an edge computing and 5G management solutions provider based in San Jose, California and Bengaluru, India. The company offers a Multi Cluster Orchestration Platform (AMCOP), an open-source orchestration, lifecycle management, and real-time policy and closed-loop automation platform designed to simplify the management of edge native and 5G network services.
In February 2023, Aarna Networks launched Aarna Edge Services (AES), a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) version of AMCOP that provides zero-touch edge orchestration and management services. AES enables tasks such as provisioning, configuring, and managing multi-cloud connectivity for cloud edge users, colo users, and SD-WAN service providers. It supports multi-cloud strategies, connecting the edge to public clouds, and allows users to share storage across public clouds and edge applications without incurring egress costs.
AES also facilitates the deployment of Machine Learning applications at the edge, reducing traffic to public clouds and eliminating the need for expensive on-premises hardware. The platform enables software-defined content delivery network (CDN) instances from partners to improve rich media application performance. Additionally, AES allows enterprises and operators to orchestrate O-RAN workloads and 5G Core on the cloud edge with partners.
In October 2023, Aarna Networks closed an oversubscribed seed funding round, raising USD 1.5 million from investors including LDV Partners, 3Lines, Carat Venture Partners, and Nvidia. The funding will be used to bring the company's cloud-Edge infrastructure, generative AI workloads, and Private 5G offerings to market.
In February 2024, Aarna Networks partnered with Airspan Networks and Druid Software to offer a managed private 5G solution for multi-site deployments, targeting service providers and system integrators. The solution combines Aarna's AMCOP platform, Airspan's sub-6GHz private 5G radio network, and Druid's 4G/5G core network platform, providing a "zero-touch" bundle for scalable Industry 4.0 systems.

Aarna Networks

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 AST SpaceMobile is developing the first and only space-based cellular broadband network designed to operate directly with standard, unmodified smartphones. The company's technology aims to provide global connectivity by deploying a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit that can communicate directly with mobile devices on the ground. AST SpaceMobile's satellites, called Bluebirds, feature large communications arrays measuring 693 square feet, making them the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit. The company's first five commercial satellites completed final assembly in July 2024 and were prepared for shipment to Cape Canaveral for a planned launch in September 2024. These initial satellites are expected to provide non-continuous service across the US with over 5,600 cells in premium low-band spectrum. AST SpaceMobile's technology utilizes the 850 MHz low-band spectrum, which offers superior signal penetration and coverage capabilities. In April 2023, the company successfully demonstrated its technology by placing the world's first call from an ordinary cellphone in Texas to another cellphone in Japan using its BlueWalker three prototype satellite. AST SpaceMobile aims to deploy up to 168 satellites to achieve global coverage, with an estimated total cost approaching USD 5 billion for the full constellation.
 
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AST Space Mobile

Astranis is a San Francisco-based company that designs and manufactures small, low-cost telecommunications satellites to provide broadband internet access in remote and underserved areas. The company's unique approach involves building compact geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites weighing around 400-600 kilograms, significantly smaller than traditional GEO satellites that can be the size of a school bus.
Astranis' satellites utilize a proprietary software-defined radio payload technology, allowing for frequency and coverage flexibility, as well as efficient spectrum utilization. The company's first commercial satellite, Arcturus, launched in April 2023, was designed to provide over 7.5 gigabits per second (Gbps) of throughput in the Ka-band to triple satellite internet capacity across Alaska through a partnership with Pacific Dataport Inc. However, Arcturus experienced solar power issues post-launch, limiting its capabilities.
To address this, Astranis deployed a multi-mission satellite called UtilitySat in 2023 as an interim solution. UtilitySat can provide connectivity across Ku, Ka, and Q/V bands and has the ability to reposition multiple times within the GEO belt, thanks to its dual chemical and electric propulsion system.
Astranis' satellites have a designed lifespan of around 8-10 years, roughly half that of conventional GEO satellites. The company operates the satellites it builds and leases the capacity to customers, including telcos, Fortune 500 companies, and governments. In 2024, Astranis unveiled plans for its next-generation Omega satellites, designed to provide over 50 Gbps of throughput, five times more than the current generation. The Omega satellites will feature solid-state power amplifiers instead of traditional vacuum tubes, improving efficiency and reducing weight.
By the end of 2024, Astranis aims to have contracts worth over USD 1.2 billion in revenue from satellites sold, with customers in countries like Mexico, Argentina, Thailand, and the Philippines. The company has also expressed interest in competing for the Protected Tactical SATCOM - Global (PTS-G) program, a US government initiative for a proliferated GEO telecoms constellation.

Astranis

Bad Cell Reception LLC (BCR) specializes in providing cellular signal enhancement solutions for multi-dwelling units (MDUs), hospitality, and commercial buildings. The company offers custom-designed, cost-effective alternatives to traditional Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) to improve cellular reception within buildings. BCR's services encompass consultation, property surveying, and system implementation, aimed at boosting tenant satisfaction, increasing retention, and enhancing property value. Their cellular enhancement systems are designed to address the growing demand for improved cell signal, which has become one of the most desired amenities for residents over the past decade.
In addition to cellular enhancement, BCR offers security camera systems tailored to meet various project scales, from small setups to complex multi-campus or multi-building requirements. The company employs the latest equipment to ensure quick deployment and compliance with client specifications. BCR also provides solutions for Emergency Responder Radio Coverage (ERRC) and public safety radio signal boost systems, which can be crucial for code compliance in many buildings. Furthermore, the company can assist with ancillary technology needs such as internet of Things (IoT) backbones and WiFi systems.
BCR emphasizes its ability to intervene at any stage of construction, from groundbreaking to near completion, to address cellular signal needs. The company positions itself as an alternative to 5G for solving in-building reception issues, noting that 5G technology often performs worse than 4G LTE inside buildings due to weaker signal strength. BCR's team brings over 50 years of combined experience in the telecom and cellular industry, leveraging this expertise to provide efficient and effective solutions for improving in-building cellular coverage.

Bad Cell Reception LLC

Companies that are developing land-based hardware and equipment which are installed on the earth's surface to transmit and receive 5G/6G signals for use in telecommunications, including base stations, antennas, and routers

Companies that are developing space-based hardware and equipment to transmit and receive 5G/6G signals for use in telecommunications, including satellites and other space-based equipment

Companies that are developing technology and solutions which are used to improve existing network range or efficiency; also includes companies looking to build next generation networks themselves

Companies developing next-generation software solutions for mobile service providers to manage cloud infrastructure and network services

Provides 5G/6G telecom technologies to offer lower latency and increased capacity and coverage

Earth-based hardware and telecom software companies adopt AI/ML for design and RAN automation

Some network optimization companies offer a single network to connect users and IoT devices globally

IS-Wireless

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