Ontix has a number of directors in common with Aqua Comms and with Digital 9 Infrastructure, which earlier this year completed the purchase of the subsea company.
In June Thor Johnsen, head of the digital infrastructure team at Triple Point Investment Management, which set up Digital 9, confirmed to Capacity that Ontix was one of the businesses in line for acquisition.
Ontix described Bradd (pictured) as “an experienced telecoms industry executive, with an extensive background in technology, operations, finance, and sales across a variety of service providers, managed service businesses, and telecom equipment vendors”.
Johnsen said: “We are thrilled that Patrick has joined to lead a terrific management team and business. We look forward to working with Patrick and team to continue to build on the exciting success Ontix has achieved as a leading small cell wireless infrastructure service provider.”
Bradd has had a career that goes back to Nortel Networks, and includes Motorola and Cable & Wireless. Until joining Ontix he has been working as COO at IT outsourcer QA Consulting.
He said: “The events of the last 18 months have demonstrated how critical connectivity is to modern life, enabling businesses to adapt and creating the backbone on which a ‘new normal’ has been realised, and allowing all of us to communicate. Working with Ontix’s partners, I hope to continue our work, quickly and efficiently providing gigabit-speed wired and wireless connectivity in places where previously it may have been thought impractical or impossible.”
Three years ago Ontix built a trial wireless network in Trafalgar Square in central London, and earlier this year it won a contract to install 5G-capable systems to improve coverage in six street markets covering Westminster, the local authority that includes Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, and other parts of central London.
Ontix’s board is chaired by former Vodafone strategy head Alan Harper and it includes Nigel Bayliff, CEO of Aqua Comms, and telecoms consultant Tim Gigg.
Bradd said: “I have been impressed and excited to witness the dedication of the team here and can’t wait to get to work. Ontix’s focus on underserved markets, as well as our growing partner ecosystem, means the company is in a great position to help our customers as they begin digital transformations with the goal of improved connectivity.”
