What UpLink does

UpLink Labs, Inc., doing business as UpLink, is a private telecommunications company that operates a neutral settlement exchange for Wi-Fi offload and roaming across wireless networks. The platform is purpose-built as a two-sided marketplace connecting Access Network Providers (ANPs) — venue operators, neutral hosts, managed Wi-Fi providers, and Wi-Fi aggregators that supply connectivity capacity — with Identity Providers (IDPs) such as Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), MVNOs, eSIM providers, and enterprises that issue credentials and consume offload capacity. UpLink's core technical proposition is replacing N-squared bilateral roaming agreements and manual RADIUS-based reconciliation with a single integration point, automated WRIX-compatible settlement, and dynamic corridor- and QoS-tiered pricing, all built natively on existing industry standards (Passpoint/Hotspot 2.0, WBA OpenRoaming, RADIUS/Diameter) without requiring new hardware.

The company generates revenue through marketplace commissions on every settled transaction and through spread economics on dynamic pricing across corridors, time-of-day, and QoS tiers. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise sales to carriers and venue operators, supplemented by a self-service portal for ongoing operations and an early-access contact form for onboarding. UpLink is positioned within the WBA OpenRoaming federation framework and lists Ericsson, Deutsche Telekom, E.ON, EDP, Avalanche, and the Wireless Broadband Alliance among its strategic partners, with Framework Ventures, Outlier Ventures, Tribe Capital, Mustard Seed, Blockchange, and AngelPad as financial backers. The company was founded in 2016, is incorporated in Delaware with operational headquarters in New York City, employs 11-50 people, and was acquired by DataSnipper in November 2025.

Name

UpLink

Legal name

Uplink Labs, Inc.

Website

https://uplink.xyz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UpLink operates a neutral settlement exchange for Wi-Fi offload, connecting venue operators and Wi-Fi aggregators with carriers, MVNOs, and eSIM providers on a single marketplace that automates authentication, dynamic pricing, and settlement built on OpenRoaming and WRIX standards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wireless Connectivity Exchange / Telecom Settlement Platform

NAICS

Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112)

SIC

Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)

akta.pro primary industry

Neutral Host & In‑Building Connectivity (DAS/Small Cells) (HDAIAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Carrier & Public Venue Wi‑Fi (Hotspot/Passpoint/NGH) (HDAFACAI)

Keywords

• Wi-Fi offload exchange
• Connectivity settlement platform
• Carrier roaming marketplace
• Neutral host network
• Wireless roaming exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Marketplace Transaction Settlement: Uplink acts as the neutral settlement rail for Wi-Fi offload and roaming sessions. Each party settles with Uplink, never directly with counterparties. The platform earns fees on every automated settlement processed through the marketplace, functioning as a transaction clearinghouse.
2. Dynamic Pricing Premiums: Dynamic pricing across corridors, time-of-day, and QoS tiers creates revenue opportunities. The marketplace enables pricing above or below current wholesale benchmarks through marketplace dynamics rather than fixed bilateral rates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

UpLink operates a neutral settlement exchange for Wi-Fi offload and roaming across wireless networks. The platform enables carriers (MNOs, MVNOs, eSIM providers) and venue operators (Access Network Providers, neutral hosts, managed Wi-Fi providers) to integrate once via a single agreement and access a marketplace where every Wi-Fi offload session is authenticated, dynamically priced, and settled automatically. Built natively on existing wireless standards — Passpoint, Hotspot 2.0, OpenRoaming, RADIUS/Diameter, and WRIX — the exchange requires no new hardware and replaces N-squared bilateral roaming agreements with a multi-sided marketplace.

Product overview

Uplink is a single unified platform providing a neutral settlement exchange for Wi-Fi offload and the commercial layer for roaming across wireless networks. The platform enables carriers and venue operators to integrate once—eliminating bilateral negotiations—and gain access to a marketplace where every session is authenticated, dynamically priced, and settled automatically. Built natively on existing industry standards: Passpoint, Hotspot 2.0, OpenRoaming, and RADIUS, with no new hardware or architectural changes required.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Uplink Platform A neutral settlement exchange for Wi-Fi offload and roaming, built natively on Passpoint, Hotspot 2.0, OpenRoaming, RADIUS/Diameter, and WRIX standards. It enables carriers (MNOs, MVNOs, eSIM providers) and venue operators (ANPs, neutral hosts, managed Wi-Fi providers) to integrate once via a single agreement, dynamically price sessions, and settle automatically — no new hardware required.

Quantifiable outcome

• Go from signed agreement to live traffic in days, not months
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe WBA is the primary standards body governing Wi-Fi roaming standards including OpenRoaming and WRIX. Uplink is positioned as OpenRoaming Compatible and aligned with WBA WRIX settlement standards. WBA endorsement legitimizes Uplink as a standards-compliant marketplace layer within the OpenRoaming federation.
• EricssoncoreTechnology or IntegrationEricsson is listed as a key partnership within Uplink's decentralized infrastructure solutions. As a major telecom infrastructure vendor, Ericsson integration provides credibility and potential technical interoperability with carrier-grade network equipment for Wi-Fi offload deployments.
• Deutsche TelekomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeutsche Telekom is listed as a utility leader and partner, collaborating with Uplink on decentralized infrastructure solutions. Deutsche Telekom represents both potential supply (utility-owned Wi-Fi infrastructure) and demand (carrier offload needs) for the Uplink marketplace.
• E.ONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE.ON is listed as a utility leader and partner of Uplink. As a major European energy and utility company, E.ON may contribute utility-owned venue infrastructure as ANP supply-side capacity in the marketplace.
• EDPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDP (Energias de Portugal) is listed among Uplink's investors and partners. As a major energy utility, EDP represents potential supply-side utility infrastructure for the marketplace connectivity exchange.
• NxGenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNxGen is listed as a partner. As a connectivity or infrastructure company, NxGen may serve as a channel or aggregation partner distributing Uplink's settlement exchange to the Wi-Fi operator ecosystem.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Cloud4Wi: Cloud4Wi provides a cloud platform for guest Wi-Fi, location analytics, and venue monetization, including carrier offload partnerships. It is an emerging player that competes for the venue-side relationship that Uplink's ANP supply depends on.
• Linkyfi: Linkyfi offers a Wi-Fi marketing, monetization, and roaming platform for venues and aggregators. It is an emerging player with partial overlap on the venue-side monetization and roaming functionality that UpLink's marketplace addresses.
• Purple (WiFi): Purple provides guest Wi-Fi, analytics, and location-based marketing for venues, with carrier offload integrations. It is an emerging player targeting the same venue operator and aggregator segment that supplies UpLink's ANP side.

Direct peers

• Single Digits: Single Digits provides managed Wi-Fi, RADIUS, and roaming/offload services for venues, hotels, and carriers. It is a direct peer in the Wi-Fi offload and settlement value chain that UpLink is attempting to platform-ize.
• GlobalReach Technology: GlobalReach provides Wi-Fi AAA, captive portal, and roaming services for venues and operators, including Passpoint and OpenRoaming integration. It is a direct functional peer on the authentication/roaming infrastructure side that UpLink's settlement layer sits adjacent to.
• Boingo Wireless: Boingo operates neutral-host Wi-Fi and DAS networks across airports, stadiums, and large venues, and aggregates Wi-Fi for carrier offload. It is the most direct functional peer to UpLink on the venue/ANP side, with an established carrier offload business that UpLink is attempting to commoditize via a marketplace layer.
• iPass (Palo Alto Networks): iPass built a global Wi-Fi roaming network aggregating venue hotspots and brokering access to carriers and enterprises. It is the closest historical analog to UpLink's marketplace model and was acquired by Palo Alto Networks, illustrating both the strategic value and consolidation trajectory of the space.

Broad incumbents

• HPE Aruba Networking: Aruba (HPE) provides enterprise Wi-Fi infrastructure with built-in roaming and Passpoint/802.11u capabilities, and integrates with OpenRoaming. As a broad incumbent Wi-Fi vendor, it controls the on-premises hardware and management software that Uplink's marketplace connects to.
• Cisco (Devicescape): Cisco acquired Devicescape in 2015 to add carrier-grade Wi-Fi offload capabilities to its enterprise networking portfolio. As a broad incumbent, Cisco sells the underlying Wi-Fi infrastructure and roaming/offload software that Uplink integrates with, and could compete directly with an open settlement layer.
• Ruckus Networks (CommScope): Ruckus (now part of CommScope) is a major enterprise Wi-Fi infrastructure vendor with Passpoint/Hotspot 2.0 and OpenRoaming support. It competes as the underlying network layer that UpLink's settlement marketplace ultimately depends on, and could bundle its own clearing/settlement services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UpLink