What McKay Brothers does

McKay Brothers is a privately held, founder-controlled provider of purpose-built ultra-low-latency connectivity infrastructure for global financial markets. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Oakland, California with a European base in Geneva/Cologny, Switzerland, the company designs, builds, and operates a private telecom network that combines proprietary millimeter-wave wireless links, hollow-core fiber, White Rabbit sub-nanosecond time synchronization, FPGA-based firmware, and exclusively licensed spectrum. McKay explicitly positions itself as a neutral, independent network partner rather than a trading firm, enforcing a "Level Playing Field" policy that guarantees all clients identical routes, latency, and access — directly addressing the systemic concern that many competing financial networks are operated by trading firms whose infrastructure could observe rival client traffic.

The core commercial offering is private bandwidth and transport sold as subscription services on multi-year, quote-based enterprise contracts to trading firms, exchanges, and digital-asset venues across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Clients include tier-1 exchanges and venues (CME Group, ICE Futures, Nasdaq, NYSE, Cboe, TMX, LSE, LME, SIX) and major crypto platforms (Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, Bybit, Deribit, LMAX). Complementary service lines span Quincy Data (a wholly-owned subsidiary that distributes market data feeds), Precision Time Exchange (sub-nanosecond clock synchronization), and proximity hosting at Secaucus and Chicago data centers. McKay substantially deepened its vertical integration in October 2019 by acquiring Brisbane-based EMClarity, a specialist manufacturer of high-throughput point-to-point millimeter-wave radios, bringing proprietary radio hardware in-house.

Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales supported by thought leadership and regulatory advocacy: co-founders Stéphane Tyč and Bob Meade regularly present at FIA Expo, STAC Summits, and The Trading Show, and the firm publishes SEC comment letters and amicus filings on equal-access market structure. McKay has raised eight successive minority equity rounds since 2016, all from sophisticated trading firms (IMC, Tower Research, Susquehanna, XR Trading, Jane Street, Citadel Securities, Optiver, and Qube Research & Technologies), with founders retaining controlling majority throughout. The company reported a global network presence spanning North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East as of early 2026, with recent launches in Australia, Canada, and Tokyo further extending its footprint.

Name

McKay Brothers

Legal name

McKay Brothers, LLC

Website

https://mckay-brothers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

McKay Brothers engineers, builds, and operates purpose-built private wireless and hollow-core fiber networks that deliver ultra-low-latency connectivity, market data distribution, and time synchronization to trading firms, exchanges, and digital-asset venues across global financial centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Low Latency Financial Connectivity

NAICS

Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112), Communications Equipment Manufacturing (3342), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334290)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812), Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial/OT Private Connectivity (Factory, Mining, Ports) (HDAIAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outside Plant (OSP) & Aerial/Buried Fiber Infrastructure (HDAFALAI), Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable (IMADAMAD), Site Security, Monitoring & Remote Operations (NOC/IoT) (HDAIAKAH)

Keywords

• Ultra-low latency networks
• Financial connectivity services
• Microwave telecom infrastructure
• Market data feeds
• Trading transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private Bandwidth / Transport Services: Dedicated private transport solutions delivering ultra-low latency connectivity over proprietary wireless and fiber paths. Revenue is recurring, driven by subscription-style contracts for dedicated bandwidth on specific routes. Services are available to all clients on equal-access terms (Level Playing Field policy).
2. Market Data Distribution (via Quincy Data): McKay's sister company Quincy Data distributes exchange market data feeds (CME, ICE, equity venues, crypto ETFs, FX, and more) via McKay's wireless and fiber network. Quincy Data offers multiple feed tiers including Quincy Extreme Data (QED), Quincy Raw Data (QRD), and Quincy Protected Data (QPD). Revenue is recurring for data feed subscriptions.
3. Proximity Hosting: Limited half-cabinet colocation space available at strategic data centers in Secaucus, NJ and Chicago, IL. Provides clients with optimized physical positioning near exchange venues and McKay/Quincy services. Offered to eligible subscribers as a premium add-on.
4. Time Synchronization Services: Sub-nanosecond traceable time distribution services spanning major US trading venues, powered by White Rabbit-based systems. Provided as a managed service to trading venues and participants requiring precise synchronization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

McKay Brothers engineers, builds, and operates purpose-built private telecommunications infrastructure for global financial markets. The company delivers ultra-low latency connectivity through proprietary millimeter-wave wireless networks combined with hollow-core fiber across metro, regional, and international routes. Its offerings include dedicated private transport for trading firms and crypto venues, market data feed distribution (via sister company Quincy Data), sub-nanosecond time synchronization, and proximity hosting at premium financial data centers.

Product overview

McKay Brothers operates as a purpose-built global connectivity infrastructure company for financial markets, offering a unified platform of private transport and complementary data services. The core offering is Private Transport—a combination of proprietary wireless networks, hollow-core fiber integration, and metro/regional/international routes across key markets in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Digital Assets. Complementary services include Quincy Data (sister company for market data feeds), Precision Time Exchange (sub-nanosecond time synchronization), Proximity Hosting (data center colocation), and Quincy News Feeds. The company also acquired EMClarity for wireless radio manufacturing capabilities. Services are delivered under a 'Level Playing Field' policy ensuring equal access for all clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quincy Data: Sister company and industry-leading distributor of extremely low latency market data, delivered across McKay Brothers' microwave networks. Offers Quincy Extreme Data (QED), Quincy Raw Data (QRD), and Quincy Protected Data (QPD) services.
• Quincy News Feeds
• Quincy Extreme Data (QED)
• Precision Time Exchange
• EMClarity

Products and services

• Private Transport
• Crypto Transport Services
• Market Participants Transport
• Exchange Support Services
• Market Data Feeds (Quincy Data)
• Precision Time Exchange
• Proximity Hosting
• Quincy News Feeds
• London-Singapore Private Transport
• Tokyo-Europe Connectivity Service
• US-Australia Ultra-Low Latency Connectivity
• Ontario-US Market Interconnection
• London-Stockholm Private Bandwidth

Quantifiable outcome

• Sub-168ms round-trip latency between Illinois futures markets and Sydney, Australia
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SIX ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026McKay Brothers issued a regulatory advocacy communication in March 2026 applauding SIX Exchange's initiative to enhance its clients' colocation experience. McKay expressed delight in working with SIX to improve colocation services.
• Go West ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025McKay Brothers partnered with Go West, a consortium of leading global trading firms, to develop and operate a private network between Chicago and Tokyo. McKay offers transport services starting late January 2026, delivering immediate latency improvements. Quincy Data distributes exchange market data to multiple Asia destinations. All services are provided under a level playing field policy, ensuring equal access for all clients.
• EMClaritycoreTechnology or Integration · 7 October 2019McKay Brothers acquired EMClarity Pty Ltd, a Brisbane, Australia-based specialist vendor of high-throughput, millimeter wave, point-to-point radio systems. EMClarity has delivered innovative telecommunications products to global customers since 2009. The acquisition strengthened McKay's in-house radio manufacturing and proprietary technology capabilities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Quincy Data: Quincy Data is McKay Brothers' wholly-owned sister company distributing ultra-low-latency market data feeds over McKay's network; while same group, it competes externally with incumbent market data distributors (Refinitiv, Bloomberg) on a price-for-latency basis.

Direct peers

• Avelacom: Avelacom provides low-latency connectivity and market data connectivity between global financial centers, directly competing with McKay Brothers on routes serving exchanges, trading firms, and crypto venues.
• BSO (BSO Networks): BSO operates a global low-latency network serving financial market participants, exchanges, and trading firms with connectivity and proximity services comparable to McKay's private transport offering.
• Colt Technology Services: Colt provides dedicated, low-latency connectivity to financial market participants, including ultra-low-latency routes between major trading venues in Europe, Asia, and the US.
• Aqua Comms: Aqua Comms operates transatlantic and intra-Europe subsea cable networks marketed for low-latency financial market connectivity, directly comparable to McKay's long-haul fiber routes.
• Extractive Networks (Xtract): Extractive Networks provides low-latency connectivity solutions purpose-built for financial market participants and trading venues, competing directly with McKay in the high-performance transport segment.
• Console Connect (PCCW Global): Console Connect provides on-demand, low-latency private network connectivity for capital markets participants globally, overlapping with McKay's enterprise transport services for trading firms and exchanges.

Others

• Equinix: Equinix is a leading global data center colocation provider where McKay has direct cross-connects (NY2, NY4, NY5, CH1); it is an ecosystem enabler and complementary infrastructure partner rather than a direct transport competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Lumen Technologies: Lumen (formerly CenturyLink) provides wavelength and low-latency services to financial market participants globally, offering overlap with McKay's transport services as part of a much larger enterprise and wholesale telecom portfolio.
• Zayo Group: Zayo is a large fiber and bandwidth infrastructure provider that acquired Spread Networks (a low-latency financial market specialist) and serves financial services customers with comparable private transport services, though as part of a much broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mckaybrothersmw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

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

M&A1 record

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about McKay Brothers