BPL Global Expands into Latin America

BPL Global Expands into Latin America
Monday January 15, 8:30 am ET
- Leading Smart Grid and Power Line Communications Company Acquires Tyron Technology -
- Appoints Industry Leader, Antonio Pedrosa, to Position of General Manager, BPL Global Brazil -

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- BPL Global(TM), Ltd., an international leader in "Smart Grid" technologies and broadband services over power lines (BPL), announced today the acquisition of Tyron Technology a company specializing in providing Power Line Communications (PLC) products and services to customers in Brazil. This acquisition is the next step in the company's global expansion strategy and will accelerate business development in Latin America. The company has further appointed PLC industry leader Antonio Pedrosa as General Manager, BPL Global Brazil with a new Latin American presence headquartered in Sao Paulo.

"I am excited to join BPL Global's impressive management team," said Antonio Pedrosa, General Manager of Tyron Technology. "Tyron approved the purchase by BPL Global because of the importance of Smart Grid utility applications being a key driver of innovation for electric utilities, as well as the company's ability to bring comprehensive, innovative solutions through to full execution. As part of the BPL Global team, we are poised to capitalize on a rich pipeline of commercial opportunities in Latin America."

Mr. Pedrosa has 18 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Before managing Tyron Technology, he was responsible for business development at Tecnocom. He was partner and founder of Primarion Telecom and sales director of EBA PLC. Mr. Pedrosa earned his degree from UMC - Sao Paulo in computer science with a specialization in telecommunications.

"Antonio and his team are well respected experts in the field with strong industry connections and a well-developed pipeline of opportunities," said Keith Schaefer, Chief Executive Officer, BPL Global. "This is the latest in the execution of our global strategy to establish commercial hubs around the world. Both Internet connectivity and improved electric grid reliability and efficiency are key economic drivers in Brazil and other Latin American countries. Our robust set of Smart Grid Applications and Power Line Communications solutions can benefit these economies."

BPL Global forms joint ventures with electric utilities and Internet service providers (ISPs), providing data, voice and eventually video broadband services over power lines to multi-occupancy buildings, businesses, government agencies, and consumers, while ensuring heightened reliability and efficiency of utility grids through Smart Grid initiatives. The company's integrated platform of Smart Grid applications includes demand and load management; outage management; grid monitoring and device control; as well as energy theft prevention.