Range Networks Hires Tech Veteran as CEO and Announces New Funding

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Range Networks, the innovative provider of commercial open source cellular systems and leader of the OpenBTS software community, today announced that it has hired a new CEO and reached significant milestones in corporate growth and market adoption over the past year.

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HIGHLIGHTS:

• Hired technology veteran Edward Kozel as CEO – Kozel brings additional leadership and expertise in open source, telecom and networking, all critical to the new category of open source software-defined mobile infrastructure pioneered by Range Networks. A former Red Hat board member, Kozel spent 12 years at Cisco Systems, where he served as chief technology officer, senior vice president of business development and as a board member. Most recently Kozel was chief technology and innovation officer with Deutsche Telekom in Germany.
• Investment growth – In the past year, Range Networks secured $10 million in funding and doubled its employee headcount.  
• Deployed successful customer implementations with partners – With successful deployments around the world  – including Indonesia, Zambia and Antarctica – the company's innovative technology and systems have created new mobile coverage possibilities for remote industries, rural communities and emergency response providers.
• Strengthened product portfolio – Range announced its UMTS Beta release and took steps to strengthen the OpenBTS open source community, including offering a new, low-cost development kit suited to laboratories, universities and independent developers and testers, and the full release of designs for its SDR1 software-defined radio.
• Recognized for innovation with multiple industry awards – Range Networks was awarded the Competitive Carriers Association's (CCA) "Industry Innovation Award" and the Telecom Council's "Graham Bell Award for Best Communications Solution," and was named to the annual FierceWireless "Fierce 15" list. Each of these awards honored Range Networks' innovative contributions to the telecom industry.

SUPPORTING QUOTE:
Edward Kozel, CEO of Range Networks, said: "We believe that in the not-too-distant future mobile networks will look entirely different than they do today. Software-defined mobile infrastructure providing end-to-end IP transport, combined with the power of the open source model, will transform the industry. We look forward to continuing to support these initiatives and demonstrating the strength of open source systems throughout 2014 and beyond."

About Range Networks
Range Networks is promoting and developing the future of cellular networks. Founded by the inventors of OpenBTS, the company is the leader in commercial open source cellular systems. Range Networks' systems are simple to deploy and manage at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions. Based on open standards, Range Networks delivers mobile connectivity to rural communities, remote industries and emergency responders. Additional information is available at: www.rangenetworks.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kim Dearborn
Nadel Phelan, Inc.
+1-831-440-2407
[email protected]

SOURCE Range Networks