Global comms infrastructure services firm BAI Communications has extended its European footprint by opening an operation in Italy.
BAI Italia marks the company's first European operation outside of the UK and Ireland, and further strengthens its capabilities as a provider of 5G services and shared infrastructure in the region.
BAI has enlisted industry veteran Luca Luciani alongside a group of other executives to spearhead its Italy market entry. As CEO of BAI Italia, Luciani brings over twenty years of business experience across telecoms, energy, consumer goods and management consulting. He has held several senior executive responsibilities at Telecom Italia and is the former CEO of TIM Brazil.
Other senior executives joining BAI Italia include Antonino Ruggiero, Riccardo Jelmini, Riccardo D'Angelo and Enrico Lanzavecchia.
BAI Italia will design, build, manage and fund critical connectivity infrastructure in the country, building on existing relationships with mobile network operators (MNOs), enterprises and municipalities.
“BAI's expansion into Italy represents another important milestone in our growth strategy to become a leading provider of telecoms infrastructure in Europe and globally,” said Igor Leprince, group CEO of BAI Communications. “As one of the largest mobile markets in Europe, Italy presents an exciting opportunity for BAI to further extend its neutral host solutions, as MNOs, municipalities and private companies continue to invest in the 5G infrastructure required to support a more connected future.”
Luciani added: “The incredible experience across the BAI group means we are in the best position to work with the MNOs, private industrial precincts, commercial venues, public offices and municipalities to improve indoor and outdoor connectivity in Italy. We will help to accelerate digital innovation across multiple sectors and drive the deployment of smart city applications.”
Last year, BAI acquired Mobilitie, one of the largest privately-held telecoms infrastructure companies in the US. In the UK, it also recently acquired Vilicom, a specialist in 4G and 5G mobile solutions. BAI has a 20-year concession from Transport for London (TfL) to deliver high-speed wireless communications for the London Underground.
