Vocus, a provider of specialist fiber and network solutions, has recently signed a contract to acquire its long-time partner, Challenge Networks, a pioneer in designing and deploying private mobile networks. The acquisition advances Vocus' strategy of providing secure, high-capacity connectivity to Australian enterprise and government customers wherever they are via its national fiber, satellite, and now wireless network infrastructure.
Including wireless network capability complements Vocus's $1 billion investment strategy, which involves network capacity upgrades and the deployment of significant new fiber infrastructure, including the Horizon and Highclere projects in Australia's northwest. It also follows the December launch of Vocus Satellite – Starlink, after Vocus signed a contract with Starlink to offer LEO (low earth orbit) satellite services across Australia to government and enterprise customers.
Challenge Networks, a leading provider of private LTE/5G networks, designs, implements, and operates private 4G and 5G networks for customers who require secure, dependable, and high-capacity wireless coverage on their sites to support operational technology (OT) use cases. These custom-designed mobile networks can be deployed at hospitals, universities, floating platforms at sea, mines, vessels, ports, and any other site requiring highly reliable and secure wireless connectivity.
By acquiring Challenge Networks, Vocus will be able to construct more private LTE and 5G networks for customers and offer them a fully managed service on a service-billed basis, as opposed to customers funding the infrastructure themselves.
Challenge Networks co-founder Simon Lardner and Challenge Networks staff will join the Vocus business. Jack Smyth, a veteran of the wireless industry and co-founder of Challenge Networks, will retire from the company.
About Vocus
Vocus is a premier provider of specialist fiber and network solutions based in Melbourne, Victoria. With a team of world-class experts, it defies convention and does things differently to simplify brilliant solutions. The company owns and operates a 25,000-kilometer fiber network that is purpose-built and handled for business and government. Australian consumers and small businesses are provided simple and affordable mobile, voice, broadband, and energy services through its well-known retail brands. The company understands the importance of straightforward and dependable technology and enables more control over the aspects that are crucial to the client.