FirstNet hopeful Rivada Networks continues to accumulate former Sprint executives with Stephen Bye the latest to join the company
Add yet another former Sprint executive to the payroll of Rivada Networks, as the company announced the addition of Stephen Bye as CTO.
In his new role, Bye will look to lead Rivada as it moves on plans to build-out a nationwide public safety network should it win a part or all of the First Responder Network Authority bidding process. The company recently formed its Rivada Mercury division in partnership with a handful of vendors, including Harris Corporation, Ericsson, Nokia, Intel Security, Fujitsu Network Communications and Black & Veatch. The companies plan to pool their resources behind Rivada as it bids in the ongoing FirstNet process that is to culminate with the building of a nationwide public safety network using 20 megahertz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band.
“The vision of Rivada Networks is compelling and achievable,” Bye noted in a statement. “I saw this as an opportunity to serve not just a company, but a cause. America’s public safety community needs what Rivada Networks is proposing, and as with all such noble causes, others too will benefit. The innovation that Rivada’s Open Access Wireless Market will deliver has the potential to unleash the full power of next-generation wireless networks in a way that was previously difficult to imagine. It is a tremendous opportunity, and I am looking forward to getting started.”
RCR Wireless News recently spoke with Rivada Chairman Declan Ganley on the company’s plans as part of the weekly Carrier Wrap video show.
Previously working as CTO at Sprint, Bye moved to the same position at regional operator C Spire. The move from C Spire, which Bye joined less than 1 year ago, appears to be an amicable separation, with Bye set to “help coordinate an orderly transfer of duties” at the carrier.
“Stephen is a long-time friend, a very strong leader and has made a great contribution to C Spire, leading our team in significantly enhancing the performance of our wireless and fiber network operations,” said C Spire CEO Hu Meena, in a statement. “This is an exciting opportunity for Stephen to work with Rivada Networks to deploy and manage a network built to serve our country’s first responders and the public safety community. His passion for doing so, combined with his technological expertise, will provide strong leadership to their national endeavor.”
Bye previously held executive positions at AT&T, InCode Wireless, BellSouth International, Optus and Telstra, and joined Sprint in early 2011 as VP of technology development and strategy following a stint as VP of wireless at cable television provider Cox Communications, which had a mobile virtual network operator relationship with Sprint as part of its own mobile plans. Those plans were shuttered shortly after his departure.
Bye shortly added the CTO title at Sprint ahead of the carrier’s highly touted $5 billion Network Vision initiative that was to see the carrier work with its vendor partners in revamping its entire network architecture. Bye left Sprint in mid-2015.
Rivada earlier this week announced the hiring of four former Sprint executives to senior positions at its Rivada Mercury business. The new hires include Pierre Elisseeff, Peter Campbell, Bill Esrey and Todd Rowley.
The hires followed the appointment earlier this year of longtime Sprint CFO Joe Euteneuer as co-CEO and CFO Americas, to run the organization alongside Chairman Declan Ganley. Euteneuer left his position as CFO at Sprint last August amidst numerous management changes at the carrier, and was replaced by current CFO Tarek Robiaiti. Euteneuer assumed the CFO position at Sprint in 2011, coming over from Qwest Communications to replace Bob Brust.
Bored? Why not follow me on Twitter
