Render Networks, which describes itself as a “purpose-built execution platform for critical infrastructure,” announced its acquisition of mPower Innovations alongside a new $20 million AUD (Australian dollar) private equity investment. Render Networks said the acquisition of mPower will allow Render to begin serving electric companies.
mPower provides infrastructure management platforms for electric utilities. The press release says that the funding is “a decisive step” in moving Render Networks from field-first execution to “end-of-system of execution.” It will accelerate development of its Esri ArcGIS geospatial foundation and its ClearWay on Databricks approach to artificial intelligence (AI).
The company says that the combined Render/mPower entity will span the entire asset lifecycle through design-deployment-operations and lifecycle management for both electric utilities and telecommunications companies.
“Billions of dollars are moving into infrastructure deployment in the next five years, and the demand on infrastructure leaders leaves no margin for error,” Render CEO Stephen Rose said in the announcement.
“Our existing shareholders are doubling down on what we’ve built and the market we’re moving into. With mPower, we extend our system of execution across both sectors, ensuring every asset is rapidly monetized, and the entire asset and deployment lifecycle is verifiable, visible and de-risked.”
The $20 million AUD investment comes from existing shareholders. Render Networks said that the buildout of critical infrastructure — for both electric and broadband companies — is at its most capital intensive in a generation. AI and hyperscaler data centers are “creating cascading, interdependent demand.” Render said that it has built and validated its approach across the telecommunications sector.
Last June, Rose told Telecompetitor that AI should be used sparingly. One use case in which it serves true benefits is in improving broadband construction processes. This sector can use AI constructively in quality control, speech-to-text reporting, pattern analysis, planning and scheduling, project tracking and monitoring and preventing rework.
