Jonathan Adelstein, left, and Bernard Borghei will distribute new business cards at WIA’s Connect (X) next month in Atlanta.
Two seasoned leaders, Jonathan Adelstein and Bernard Borghei, have announced new positions within the digital infrastructure industry.
Adelstein has joined TWN Communications as the new Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer. He was previously a managing director at DigitalBridge.
Borghei will now be Symphony Wireless’s Chief Executive Officer. He formerly served as the Chief Revenue Officer of Tower Engineering Professionals.
Adelstein to secure capital for building broadband networks
In his key operational position, Adelstein will work to secure the capital and grants TWN will use to partner with rural electric cooperatives to build world-class broadband networks in rural America, along with driving regulatory and compliance policy. He will assist TWN in capitalizing on its prime position to grow the company’s infrastructure under the $42 billion federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
With a proven track record of directing federal funding to address rural community broadband infrastructure needs, Adelstein brings a wealth of experience to the executive team.
“Jonathan is a seasoned leader with a deep understanding of the telecom, rural, and governmental sectors,” said Colin Wood, CEO of TWN Communications. “We anticipate benefiting from his knowledge, experience, and connections. He also shares our longstanding commitment to improving the quality of life in rural America through broadband deployment.”
“TWN provides the highest-quality broadband in conjunction with rural electric cooperatives, which fits squarely with my passion for serving rural America,“ said Adelstein.
“There is no better business model for connecting remote areas than this partnership of TWN’s rural telecom expertise with electric coops’ infrastructure and connection to their communities. And no business is better positioned than TWN to win governmental support to bring broadband where it’s needed most,” explained Adelstein.
Prior to his role at Digital Bridge, Adelstein served ten years as the CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association. His previous experience includes being head of the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, seven years as an FCC Commissioner, and a key staff member in the US Senate.
Adelstein holds an MA in History and a BA with honors in Political Science from Stanford University. He attended Harvard Kennedy School and served as a Teaching Fellow and teaching assistant at Harvard and Stanford.
Borghei to drive continued growth of Symphony Wireless
Symphony Wireless, the cell site acquisition affiliate of Palistar Capital LP, an alternative asset manager focused on mission-critical communications and digital infrastructure, will benefit from Borghei’s 30 years of domestic and international experience in the wireless and telecommunications infrastructure industry.
He has held several prominent roles throughout his career, including being a co-founder and executive vice president of operations at Vertical Bridge from January 2014 to July 2022. Before co-founding Vertical Bridge, Borghei was Senior Vice President and Partner at Global Tower Partners, where he ran domestic and international market operations for a portfolio of more than 6,500 towers and 12,000 managed properties and oversaw new site development in the LATAM markets.
Before that, he held executive and senior management positions at several wireless operators, service providers, and infrastructure companies in North and South America and EMEA, including SkyBitz, Wireless Facilities, Inc. Western Wireless International, and Triton PCS.
“I am thrilled to join the Symphony Wireless team as CEO. Symphony Wireless has built a market-leading platform, and I am excited to drive the continued growth of the business. I am committed to supporting the company’s mission of delivering connectivity around the country through wireless asset acquisitions and creating attractive opportunities for our wireless carrier and tower company customers, as well as for our landlord and real estate partners. I look forward to leveraging my experience in the telecommunications infrastructure industry for the benefit of Symphony and its clients,” said Borghei.
Jorge Pedraza, Vice Chairman of Symphony Wireless and Operating Partner at Palistar, said, “The entire Symphony Wireless team extends a warm welcome to Bernard. Bernard is a proven leader in the digital infrastructure industry, and we are excited about the next phase of growth for Symphony Wireless.”
Borghei serves on the Advisory Boards for the Villanova School of Engineering, its Engineering Entrepreneurship program, and the Board of Directors for FreshWave Group, a U.K.-based digital infrastructure company.
He previously served on the Board of Governors of the National Wireless Safety Alliance and the Board of Directors of the Tower Family Foundation, serving as Chairman of its Endowment Committee.