Vernon (“Vern”) Fotheringham has been a consistent contributor and innovator in every sector of the field of commercial wireless communications. He has had substantive involvement in both the technology and service delivery sectors and possesses a unique set of skills that have enabled stewardship of new ventures in the communication and broadcasting space to deliver scalable and sustainable value to all stakeholders at every stage of evolution of these companies.
He has been a catalyst for innovation and change in the competitive telecommunications field globally through numerous direct entrepreneurial activities, and as an advisor or influencer on many successful projects for major service providers, system vendors, software application developers and hosted service operators. Throughout his career he also has been active as a public policy and regulatory advocate for new telecommunications service rules and standards, and as an inventor and creator of innovative new products and services.
Presently, he is the Executive Chairman of Castanet 5G, LLC & Castanet Corporation, a 5G Broadcast Internet and satellite CDN media distribution venture. He also serves as Chairman of Apogee Networks, Co. Ltd. of New Zealand a global NGSO Ka, V & Q-band satellite system applicant, and Chairman of Auranet, Inc. focused on the transformation of LPTV television spectrum into a nationwide AI infrastructure supporting the extension of AI technologies into the physical world by providing the missing precise timing and positioning services.
From February 2011 through December 2014, he was the Chairman and CEO of Kymeta Corporation pioneering the field of metamaterial antennas from its inception as a spin-off from Intellectual Ventures through three rounds of finance led by Bill Gates III.
In his more than three decade long telecommunications career, Vern has earned widespread recognition and held notable positions including his pioneering work in the field of millimetric microwave technology and serrvices as the Chairman and CEO of Advanced Radio Telecom; as the Acting Chief Technical Officer of Nextlink Wireless, Inc. (XO Communications) the nationwide LMDS licensee; and as President and CEO of ADAPTIX, Inc. that pioneered and secured patent protection for the core OFDMA technology as now embedded In the 4G/5G mobile networks.
With Chetan Sharma, Vern co-authored, “Wireless Broadband: Conflict and Convergence” that was published by IEEE-Wiley about the multifaceted evolution of wireless technology, its applications and convergence.
