As demand for mobile data continues to accelerate worldwide, the telecom industry is increasingly trying to meet the challenge of connecting disparate networks. At the center of this movement, Accuris Networks (www.accuris-networks.com), a global leader in cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, announced that it has completed a $15 million equity funding round. Key new investors in this privately held company are the Ulster Bank Diageo Venture Fund and the China Ireland Growth Technology Fund. In addition, Accuris Networks announced the appointment of seasoned U.S.-based wireless executive Jeff Brown as CEO.

According to Accuris Networks Chairman Larry Quinn, “Our established industry customer base, our significant pipeline and our industry-leading technology were all factors that attracted this investment. We intend to use this funding to invest in future product development in our AccuROAM™ platform, to maintain our lead in connecting networks and build more solutions such as carrier-grade Wi-Fi offload and roaming as we scale our business globally. While we already have customers worldwide and support from existing investors such as Atlantic Bridge Capital, we particularly want to expand in China, Japan and other Asian markets. We also intend to consolidate and amplify our successes in EMEA, particularly in the Middle East and Western Europe.”

Under the leadership of its new U.S.-based CEO, Accuris Networks will also broaden its presence in the North American market with the establishment of a new Silicon Valley office. “With marquee customers and partners such as AT&T, Bell Mobility, Telus, GoGo, Cisco, HP and Alcatel-Lucent, Accuris Networks has already established an enviable track record in this market,” said Jeff Brown. “But we’ve barely scratched the surface of the opportunities here so far.”

New investor Ulster Bank Diageo Venture Fund L.P., managed by Investec Ventures, is a leading investor in the Irish technology sector. According to Michael Murphy, Managing Partner, the fund is investing in Accuris Networks because of the experience of its team and the ever-increasing demand for Wi-Fi offload solutions that help ease congestion and capacity constraints across mobile networks as data traffic continues to grow exponentially. “The AccuROAM platform has received wide recognition, including being named the ‘best mobile technology breakthrough’ at Mobile World Congress,” he said. “With so many experts — and customers – using this proven technology, we see major revenue potential in a future where Wi-Fi will only increase its penetration.”

Summit Bridge Capital, which manages the China Ireland Growth Technology Capital Fund, also sees huge promise in Accuris Networks and its products. According to David Lam, Managing Director, “Connecting networks is one of the hottest areas in this market, whether new networks or legacy networks, and the AccuROAM platform does it best. The many wins with Tier 1 customers are only the beginning of this company’s potential growth.”

Accuris Networks’ newly named CEO Jeff Brown is an industry veteran who was previously president and CEO of mobile technology company Kineto Wireless. He held similar positions at RadioFrame Networks and was earlier the CEO of Data Critical, a wireless healthcare company, where he spearheaded an eventual sale of the company to GE Medical Systems. Brown also held executive positions at McCaw Cellular, AT&T Wireless and PacTel Cellular.