Industry Spotlight: BroadbandOne’s Eric Watko

With all the focus on AI and FTTx and 5G, it’s easy to forget about the other side of the digital divide and the service providers who straddle it.  Fixed wireless services have long been with us, and the underlying technology continues to evolve.  New ways to connect more and more places are a key piece of the infrastructure puzzle, and that means opportunity for those with the spectrum and a fresh approach.  With us today to talk about the next generation of the fixed wireless opportunity is Eric Watko, CEO of BroadbandOne.

TR: What is your background and how did you get involved with BroadbandOne?

EW: I’ve been in telecommunications for over 20 years, always working to push the boundaries of new technologies and markets. Before BroadbandOne, I worked with American Tower, SES Networks and some equipment manufacturers. Joining BroadbandOne was a natural fit because it allowed me to bring my experience from both the tech and service provider sides to help realize the potential of our unique assets. Throughout my career, the edge of the network is constantly evolving and driving new use cases and that’s where BroadbandOne’s strategy fits in well.

TR: What are the origins of BroadbandOne and its assets?

EW: BroadbandOne was founded with the mission of revolutionizing the telecom landscape, particularly in underserved and high-growth markets. The company strategically acquired spectrum assets, including valuable mmWave licenses, through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auctions. Our portfolio includes 357 mmWave licenses, primarily in the 28GHz and LMDS 29-31GHz bands, which provide a competitive edge for deploying next-gen networks. This strategic acquisition enables BB1 to offer high-speed wireless connectivity solutions that power everything from enterprise networks to industrial IoT applications.  

We now have a strong portfolio of 28 GHz and 29-31 GHz millimeter wave spectrum across 19 states, along with pockets of 2.5 GHz spectrum within this footprint. This diverse spectrum mix gives us a unique edge in the market. This network is operational and integrates CBRS and LoRaWAN radios, enhancing our service capabilities.

TR: Millimeter wave spectrum has historically been difficult to monetize.  What has changed? How have you approached the problem?

EW: The technology supporting millimeter wave has matured significantly, making it possible to use these frequencies in optimized ways to deliver commercial services. We’ve introduced a solution we call Telco-as-a-Service, which combines fixed wireless, millimeter wave, LoRaWAN, and CBRS. This model allows us to partner with enterprises or regional service providers who can use our infrastructure to deliver their own services to customers, extending their reach without the need for heavy investment.

When most people think of fixed wireless, they envision residential broadband in very rural areas. But our assets and licenses allow us to deliver robust, enterprise-grade connectivity. We aim to be the high-quality, resilient provider that partners can rely on to enhance their networks and bring more customers online quickly.

TR: Are there particular types of customers or verticals that BB1 and your regional service provider partners are seeing success with?

EW: We’re seeing strong demand from sectors like healthcare, education and manufacturing. For example, in manufacturing, we can support logistics, like at the Port of Savannah. Our solution enables rapid deployment, which is ideal for industries needing quick connectivity without large upfront investments. While we complement fiber by providing redundancy and backup, we can also serve as the primary provider to support growth until fiber becomes available.

TR: Where are you looking to expand your business right now?  Where are you investing your resources?

EW: Our expansion is focused on two main areas. First, geographically, we’re extending our presence in existing and new markets where we see high growth potential. We have spectrum in 19 states and many tier 2 and 3 cities are experiencing significant enterprise growth. For instance, in the near term we are working with partners in commercializing existing markets, while exploring greenfield markets like Tulsa, Albuquerque, El Paso and parts of Florida.

The second focus is on leveraging new developments from equipment manufacturers to remain at the cutting edge of WAN technology. This includes enhancements in antennas, service delivery and resource management, allowing us to offer even greater performance and efficiency.

TR: What types of technologies do you see on the horizon that could change things?

EW: Some equipment providers are already employing new technologies to extend the reach of higher-frequency services like millimeter wave. Advances in software and modulation schemes help overcome the inherent distance limitations of these frequencies. Additionally, since much of our spectrum is 3GPP compliant, we’re keeping an eye on developments in Open RAN and how that might influence fixed wireless standards.

TR: What developments would mean the most to BB1?

EW: Distance and frequency reuse are game-changers for us. With advanced frequency reuse and extended range, we could achieve greater capacity and coverage per tower, making our services even more complementary to fiber.

TR: What stage of growth do you feel you are at right now?

EW: We’re at the start of a growth phase, what we hope is the “hockey stick” part of the S curve. After two years of building our initial network, we’re now applying those lessons to scale our commercialization efforts.

TR: What do you see as the biggest challenges ahead?

EW: Our challenge is to sustain and manage the growth we’re experiencing while maintaining high-quality service. Operationally, the past two years of network deployment have prepared us well, and now our primary focus is on achieving customer scale.

TR: How do you view competition from other access technologies?

EW: We see ourselves as complementary to fiber. We’re here to enhance existing solutions, not compete. When partners consider working with us, it’s not about choosing between fiber or fixed wireless—it’s about using both to maximize connectivity options.

TR: Thank you for talking to Telecom Ramblings!

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Categories: Industry Spotlight · Wireless