5G Enabler Air5 Names Jeff Brown as CEO

Air5™ (air5.io), a new Silicon Valley-based technology company focused on aligning wired and wireless networks, named wireless veteran Jeff Brown its CEO and introduced its disruptive patent-pending 5G-standards-based network architecture that will, for the first time, effectively harmonize disparate broadband infrastructures.

The innovative new concept allows a 5G-based network architecture to seamlessly share cable’s hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) infrastructure with the industry’s current DOCSIS standard.

The company also announced it has attracted a prestigious executive team and advisory board consisting of esteemed global C-level technologists and business luminaries from world-renowned cable, wireless, and tech companies, such as Liberty Global, Ericsson, Vodafone, Cisco, Charter, Comcast, Motorola and AT&T. The group, responsible for transforming their industries, will participate in the continued development and execution of Air5’s vision.

By aligning wireless and wired broadband networks into one cohesive 5G infrastructure, Air5’s novel architecture will facilitate more innovative and interconnected mobile solutions and increase capabilities to achieve customer growth across wired and wireless ecosystems. The company also expects its new technology to bring faster speeds, higher levels of security, and allow current broadband systems an elegant migration path to Air5’s architecture, while also making it easier to take advantage of advances in Artificial Intelligence already implemented in 5G technology.

“The new Air5 technology is creating a disruption of 5G beyond mobile and fixed wireless access into cable broadband, with higher speed, elevated efficiencies and new broadband experiences delivered to the combined customer base,” said Dr. Jan Uddenfeldt, Air5 co-founder and former CTO of Ericsson, one of the premier vendors in the wireless ecosystem. Uddenfeldt is considered the godfather of today’s wireless technology standards, is a member of the Wireless Hall of Fame and brings 45 years’ experience in the field from roles at Ericsson, Sony and twenty Silicon Valley startups.

“Air5’s collective global wireless and cable technology team will ensure our technology will address domestic and international opportunities and issues as they pertain to the integration of 5G across all industries,” added Lorenz Glatz, Air5 co-founder, former CTO of Kabel Deutschland (Vodafone) and former SVP of Design and Architecture at Liberty Global. “This is a rare melding of executives to drive the new and improved meaning of wireless and wired broadband convergence.”

CEO Jeff Brown, a wireless industry veteran and eight-time CEO, has held executive positions with PacTel Cellular (Verizon) and McCaw Cellular (AT&T Wireless). His previous wireless-focused companies include RadioFrame Networks, Kineto Wireless and Accuris Networks.

“Air5’s one-of-a-kind 5G-standards-based architecture will provide a significant boost for all wireless and cable operators by facilitating a richer, broader, more accessible infrastructure for innovation and customer engagement,” said Brown. “Our solution will enable new capabilities, services and economies of scale, while allowing operators to leverage Artificial Intelligence and other burgeoning new technologies already being integrated into operations and customer solutions for these networks.”

“Jeff Brown brings a stellar track record of successful operational performance and vision in the wireless and technology industries,” said Sudhir Ispahani, executive chairman of Air5 and former CTO of Liberty Global. “We are extremely pleased to have Jeff join the Air5 team and look forward to benefiting from his exceptional leadership skills and deep industry expertise and experience.”

Longtime cable executives agree that Air5 will help cable companies better differentiate themselves and enhance customer usage through advanced 5G network capabilities.

“As cable companies continue their successful traction in the mobile sector, in order to maintain that success and achieve profitability, the network model must evolve to support additional growth and drive owners’ economics,” said Marwan Fawaz, Air5 advisory board member and distinguished cable, telecom and broadband executive with past leadership and advisory roles at Charter Communications, Motorola, Alphabet and Nest.

Kip Compton, Air5 advisory board member, seasoned video, IoT, Cloud software leader and former executive at Cisco and Comcast, added, “The transformative Air5 architecture will help cable companies, and their current vendor ecosystem, tap into the vibrant 5G-based innovation marketplace to maximize optionality for all players.”

According to Statista, there “were an estimated 2.17 billion 5G mobile subscriptions worldwide in 2024 up from just 1.58 billion the previous year. This figure is expected to exceed 5.56 billion by the end of the decade with 5G set to surpass 4G as the world’s leading mobile network technology.”