The Cloud, which provides white-label public wireless LANs for network operators and ISPs to offer to their customers, has revealed that it has received funding from two leading venture capital companies.
The funding will give it the ability to deploy more hotspots, and to improve interoperability between customers’ networks.
The company has not declared the size of the funding, but said the input from 3i and Accel Partners was “significant”.
The Cloud owns 4300 hotspots in the UK, and claims it is currently installing 100 more each week.
Its biggest customer at present is BT, which provides internet access to corporates through its Openzone brand.
The Cloud will also form a division specifically to focus on expanding its efforts with service provider customers.
The Carrier Services division will include consulting services, a toolkit to handle systems integration, and the ability to provide ASP (application service provider) services.
The division will be overseen by Peter Elliott, who was previously responsible for IT at mobile operator Orange.
As part of the new funding, parent company Inspired Broadcast Networks’ control will be limited to two seats on the board.
The Cloud intends to develop its presence in the rest of Europe by developing its business with service providers in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and Sweden.