IBus Networks

IBus Networks, established in 2010 by Ram Sellaratnam, Sunil Menon, and Subash Vasudevan, operates as a neutral host digital infrastructure provider focused on resolving in-building connectivity challenges. The company's inception was driven by the founders' extensive experience in the telecommunications sector, where they identified a significant gap in reliable indoor network coverage as mobile data consumption surged with the advent of 3G and 4G technologies. Ram Sellaratnam, an alumnus of Harvard Business School with a background at IBM, along with Sunil Menon, who held leadership roles at Nokia Siemens Networks, and Subash Vasudevan, with experience at companies like Nortel Networks, combined their expertise to address this market inefficiency.

The core of IBus Networks' business is providing comprehensive, multi-operator, in-building connectivity solutions. The company deploys distributed antenna systems (DAS) and other infrastructure to ensure seamless and high-quality mobile voice and data services inside large venues such as hospitals, hotels, corporate offices, and shopping malls. This model benefits both the real estate owners, who can offer enhanced connectivity as an amenity, and mobile network operators, who can extend their network coverage indoors without the capital expenditure of deploying individual infrastructure in each building. IBus Networks generates revenue by leasing this shared infrastructure to multiple telecom operators simultaneously, operating on a long-term contract basis.

Beyond basic connectivity, the firm leverages its infrastructure to offer value-added services, including providing first-party hyperlocal data intelligence, which is GDPR compliant. This capability allows property owners to gain insights into footfall and user behavior within their premises. Significant milestones include receiving a license from India's Department of Telecommunications and securing substantial funding to fuel its expansion. Notably, the company raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by the Morgan Stanley India Infrastructure fund in 2020 and a further $21 million in a Series B round in 2022 from a Nomura-managed fund, enabling the acquisition of Ubico's tower assets and further solidifying its market position.

Keywords: in-building connectivity, digital infrastructure, neutral host, telecom infrastructure, distributed antenna systems, 5G solutions, data intelligence, mobile network solutions, smart buildings, connectivity-as-a-service