Blu Wireless
Bristol, GB · Founded 2009 · 49 employees on LinkedIn · 12 known investors
Blu Wireless develops millimeter wave radio networking technology for wireless communications. The company specializes in mmWave networking solutions.
Also known as Blu Wireless Technology
Founders & leadership
Investors · 12
Also in the syndicate · 6
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Blu Wireless is a Bristol, UK-headquartered developer of millimetre-wave (mmWave) wireless communication systems for multi-gigabit connectivity. The company designs and supplies wireless networking equipment that operates in the 57-71 GHz unlicensed band, covering the chain from the physical layer through to networking and application layers, so that customers can take a turnkey solution rather than integrating components from multiple suppliers. Its stated performance envelope includes carrier-grade links at ranges of several kilometres, both stationary and on the move, with support for mobility at speeds above 300 km/h.
The product portfolio is organised around two principal lines: Lightning (LightningBlu) for high-speed rail, providing continuous track-to-train multi-gigabit connectivity for on-board internet, entertainment and information services; and Phantom (PhantomBlu) for defence, a low probability of detection (LPD) mesh mmWave system supplied in 360-degree and 180-degree, low size-weight-and-power configurations that can be set up as either a PCP (hub) or STA (client) node and scaled as tactical requirements grow. Blu Wireless also supplies application software compliant with the IEEE 802.11ad and 802.11ay 60 GHz standards, with higher-layer stacks enabling wireless mesh networking, mobility and network management. Earlier company material describes its HYDRA mmWave technology positioned for 5G telecoms infrastructure, Industry 4.0 and high-speed transportation.
The leadership team is led by CEO Anthony Murray, previously CEO of McLaren Applied and formerly in senior roles at Qualcomm Technologies International, with Johnny Bray as CFO and Dave Purle as COO; Henry Nurser held the CEO role at the time of the 2019 growth round. The company describes a team of more than 60 professionals, technology experts and engineers based in central Bristol with representation worldwide.
Founding story
Guinness Ventures records Blu Wireless Technology as founded in 2009 in Bristol by Henry Nurser, initially designing digital signal processing technologies for high-speed wireless applications including on-board Wi-Fi for public transport and 5G telecom infrastructure.
Business model
Blu Wireless supplies mmWave networking equipment, systems and application software to end customers and works with integrators, manufacturers and service providers; earlier descriptions also characterise the business as licensing system IP and DSP technology for high-speed wireless applications.
Sales of vertically integrated mmWave networking products and software spanning the physical to application layers, alongside an IP licensing model referenced in earlier descriptions of the business.
Traction
Blu Wireless has announced a supplier partnership with rail operator FirstGroup for 5G track-to-train infrastructure in the UK, a strategic partnership with Westermo covering use of its patented mmWave technology in the rail market, acceptance onto the JOSCAR register as a compliant defence supplier, completion of trials of its IEEE 5G mmWave technology in operational tactical scenarios, maritime 5G trials reported as breaking a 1 Gbps uplink speed record, and the launch of an outdoor mmWave testbed in France. It has also worked with Liverpool 5G Create on jointly developed intellectual property.
Latest developments
In January 2026 Blu Wireless announced a £6 million growth debt facility from UK investment firm Salica Investments to support global expansion. The company has continued to publish on rail connectivity strategy in the UK and on tactical defence connectivity themes such as LPD/LPI, and lists exhibition appearances at SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, TechNet Augusta 2026 and InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Blu Wireless positions itself as a specialist in mmWave communications for multi-gigabit connectivity in transport and defence. It has been recognised in industry awards, including World Communication Awards finalist (2019, Wireless Innovation Vendor), Inca Gold Awards winner 2019 (Urban Impact), BVCA 2019 Venture-backed Management Team of the Year, ELEKTRA winner 2018 (Design Team of the Year and IoT Product Innovation), NMI finalist 2015 (Emerging Technology Company of the Year) and ELEKTRA 2014 New Company of the Year.
The company emphasises vertical integration: control of the product from radio silicon through networking and application layers in house, allowing a full turnkey solution. It also highlights operation on unlicensed spectrum without reliance on fibre or cabled networks, mobility support above 300 km/h, multi-kilometre carrier-grade links, and stealth-oriented LPD/LPI configurations for tactical use.
Technology
mmWave radio systems using the 14 GHz of unlicensed spectrum available in the 57-71 GHz band, built on in-house expertise spanning core silicon to system-level products. Software is compliant with the IEEE 802.11ad and 802.11ay 60 GHz standards and adds higher-layer stacks for mesh networking, mobility and network management. Defence products emphasise low probability of detection/low probability of intercept operation and low size, weight and power. The company's earlier mmWave system IP was branded HYDRA and it has also developed digital signal processing technology for high-speed wireless applications.
Go-to-market
Direct engagement with rail and defence customers combined with partnerships with integrators, manufacturers, service providers and industrial communications vendors such as Westermo; the company exhibits at sector trade events including SOF Week, TechNet Augusta and InnoTrans, and publishes technical and policy commentary on rail and tactical connectivity.
High-speed rail operators and the wider transport sector, defence and government authorities, and mobility applications; the company also sells through integrators, manufacturers, service providers and, historically, tier-1 telecoms infrastructure providers and semiconductor companies.
Geography
Global headquarters in Bristol, UK, with representation worldwide; commercial engagement reported in the US, Japan, the UK and mainland Europe, an outdoor testbed in France, and exhibition activity in the US (Tampa, Florida; Augusta, Georgia) and Germany (Berlin).
History
According to its investor Guinness Ventures, Blu Wireless Technology was founded in 2009 in Bristol, with Henry Nurser named as founder. An early funding round of $3.1 million (£2m) was led by Qi3 Accelerator with London Business Angels syndicate members including Wren Capital, plus $0.9 million (£0.6m) from the Angel Co-Fund. In 2019 the company raised £12.7m ($16.6m) in a growth round led by existing investors Arm, Calculus Capital, Kendall and MGL with new investor Guinness Asset Management, the year Guinness first invested. It subsequently moved to a larger central Bristol office next to Castle Park, received equity investment from Maven Capital Partners via the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund, and in January 2026 secured a £6 million growth debt facility from Salica Investments.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 13
launches, deals, and filingsThe Bristol-based mmWave communications systems supplier secured a £6 million growth debt facility from UK investment firm Salica Investments to accelerate global expansion.
Blu Wireless announced investment from Maven Capital Partners, acting as appointed fund manager for the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund.
Industrial data communications supplier Westermo entered a strategic partnership agreement to use Blu Wireless's patented mmWave wireless technology in the rail market.
The company moved to a new office in central Bristol next to Castle Park, providing more space for lab areas, R&D and product development.
The company announced maritime 5G trial results demonstrating uplink speeds it described as 3-4 times faster than competitors.
The company launched its first outdoor testbed site in France, demonstrating mmWave technology for mobility, backhaul and security applications.
Blu Wireless completed trials of its IEEE 5G mmWave technology delivering tactical 5G in realistic operational scenarios.
The company was accepted onto the JOSCAR register, recognising it as a compliant supplier for defence companies.
Blu Wireless was named a 2019 BVCA winner for Venture-backed Management Team of the Year; the same year it was a World Communication Awards finalist (Wireless Innovation Vendor) and an Inca Gold Awards winner for Urban Impact.
Growth round led by existing investors Arm, Calculus Capital, Kendall and MGL, with new investor Guinness Asset Management; proceeds to scale worldwide deployment of devices using the company's HYDRA mmWave technology and to expand sales, software and customer applications support teams.
$16.6M source ↗
Blu Wireless announced a supplier partnership with international railway operator FirstGroup to deliver 5G track-to-train infrastructure in the UK.
Round led by Qi3 Accelerator representing a syndicate of over £1m of London Business Angels private investors including Wren Capital, with a further £0.6m from the Angel Co-Fund and additional investors.
$3.1M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Blu Wirelessbluwireless.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Blu Wireless do?
- Bristol-based developer of mmWave wireless communication systems for high-speed rail, defence and mobility applications.
- Who are Blu Wireless's investors?
- Blu Wireless's investors include Maven Capital Partners, Cambridge Angels group, Salica Investments, ARM, Calculus Capital Ltd., Wren Capital.
- Where is Blu Wireless headquartered?
- Blu Wireless is headquartered in Bristol, GB.