FreeWave Technologies
FreeWave Technologies is a Boulder, Colorado-based industrial IoT company founded in 1993 that designs ruggedized wireless hardware (radios, gateways, edge computers) and a zero-trust security overlay (Zentry) for energy, utilities, agriculture, and defense customers operating remote assets in harsh environments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What FreeWave Technologies does
FreeWave Technologies, Inc. is a Boulder, Colorado-based privately held industrial IoT connectivity company founded in 1993. It designs, manufactures, and tests ruggedized wireless hardware (radios, cellular gateways, edge computers, satellite solutions, and OEM modules) for operation in extreme and hazardous environments (C1D2-certified, -40C to 75C). Its portfolio spans the Elements ES1000 networking gateway, ZumIQ edge computer, FreeWave Edge data platform, ZumLink and FGR3 radio series, global cellular SIMs, and satellite connectivity solutions, all serving remote industrial assets.
The company's customer base spans four verticals: energy (primary, including oil, gas, and pipeline operations), utilities (smart grid modernization), agriculture (precision farming and irrigation), and defense (secure military and industrial control systems). It sells primarily through direct enterprise field sales combined with a certified channel partner program, and offers hardware on a quote-based pricing model. In 2025 it expanded its revenue model by introducing Zentry, a zero-trust security solution available either embedded in hardware or as a standalone subscription, built on partnerships with NetFoundry (zero-trust networking) and Keyfactor (PKI/digital identity).
FreeWave has approximately 101-250 employees and a 30-year track record of "thousands of networks" deployed worldwide. Strategic moves include the 2021 acquisition of a 51% controlling stake in New Zealand-based ModuSense (extending SaaS capability and Asia-Pacific presence), the January 2025 partnership alliance with NetFoundry and Keyfactor, and the June 2025 launches of the Zentry security solution and Elements ES1000 gateway. The company aligns its products with NIST 800-207, IEC 62443, NERC CIP, EU Cyber Resilience Act, and CMMC Level 1 standards, positioning for regulated critical-infrastructure buyers.
FreeWave Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FreeWave Technologies
- Legal name
- FreeWave Technologies, Inc.
- Website
- https://freewave.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- FreeWave Technologies is a Boulder, Colorado-based industrial IoT company founded in 1993 that designs ruggedized wireless hardware (radios, gateways, edge computers) and a zero-trust security overlay (Zentry) for energy, utilities, agriculture, and defense customers operating remote assets in harsh environments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FreeWave Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial IoT Connectivity Hardware
- NAICS
- Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Communications Equipment Manufacturing (3342)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial/OT Private Connectivity (Factory, Mining, Ports) (HDAIAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Serial/Fieldbus-to-Ethernet Device Connectivity (Device Servers/Protocol Gateways) (HDAFAJAF), Industrial IoT/Edge Electronics Manufacturing (Gateways, Edge Controllers) (IMAGAGAC), Out-of-Band & Remote Infrastructure Management (Console/Power/Device Access) (HDAFAMAO)
Keywords
Where FreeWave Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FreeWave Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Rugged IoT Hardware Devices: Sale of ruggedized wireless connectivity devices including radios, modems, edge computing gateways, and cellular gateways. Products designed for harsh industrial environments with extended temperature ranges and hazardous location certifications.
- Zentry Security Software: Zero trust security solution available as embedded feature within hardware or standalone subscription. Provides continuous authentication, microsegmentation, and policy-based access control for industrial IoT networks.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
FreeWave Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FreeWave Technologies designs, manufactures, and sells rugged wireless networking hardware (industrial radios, cellular gateways, edge computers, satellite solutions, cellular SIMs) and the Zentry zero trust security software overlay for connecting and securing remote industrial operations. The integrated portfolio enables industrial customers in energy, utilities, agriculture, and defense to deploy industrial IoT networks in harsh environments with continuous authentication, microsegmentation, and guaranteed data delivery. Products are designed, manufactured, and tested in the USA with hazardous-location (C1D2) and extreme-temperature certifications.
Product overview
FreeWave Technologies offers a unified industrial IoT portfolio combining rugged hardware devices with zero trust security software. The core hardware lineup includes the Elements ES1000 networking gateway, ZumIQ Edge Computer for edge application deployment, FreeWave Edge data platform, and various wireless radio series (ZumLink, FGR3, LRS, MM3, WaveContact) for connectivity. Zentry provides the zero trust security overlay that makes networks invisible to threats while remaining controllable. The architecture enables customers to connect remote assets via radios/gateways, process data at the edge, and secure the entire network through Zentry's continuous authentication and microsegmentation. Products are designed, manufactured, and tested in the USA for operation in harsh industrial environments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Zentry: Zero trust security solution built for the industrial edge, providing secure remote access and eliminating attack surface for IIoT networks.
- ZumIQ
- FreeWave Edge
- Elements ES1000
Products and services
- Elements ES1000 with FreeWave Zentry A rugged networking device and cellular gateway for industrial remote operations, featuring embedded zero trust security (Zentry), quad-core A53 hardware for edge computing, global connectivity with automatic carrier switching, and operation in -20C to 70C environments. Built for critical infrastructure operations.
- Zentry Zero Trust Security A zero trust security overlay for industrial networks that makes them invisible to threats while remaining fully visible and controllable to operators. Implements continuous authentication, microsegmentation, least-privilege access, and end-to-end encryption, aligned with NIST 800-207. Available as embedded feature in Elements ES1000 or as standalone subscription.
- ZumIQ Edge Computer A low-power, C1D2-certified edge computer for deploying IIoT applications at the industrial edge. Features a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, 512MB-1GB RAM, Linux-based IQ Application Environment preloaded with Python, Node-RED, and Node.js, -40C to 75C operating range, solar-compatible 2W power consumption, and Ethernet plus serial interfaces.
- FreeWave Edge An on-device edge polling and data storage data platform that provides guaranteed data delivery for industrial assets. Connects any sensor via API Enabled IO, supports Modbus, ROC, and Total Flow protocols, and communicates with SCADA, enterprise, or cloud dashboards via MQTT publish-subscribe transmission.
- ZumLink Series An industrial radio series providing reliable wireless connectivity for remote operations, part of FreeWave's rugged connected devices portfolio.
- FGR3 Series Industrial radio devices providing reliable wireless connectivity for demanding remote environments, part of FreeWave's rugged connected devices portfolio.
- FGR3-IO Series Industrial radio devices with integrated I/O capabilities for remote monitoring and control applications in demanding environments.
- LRS Series Industrial wireless connectivity devices designed for rugged remote environments as part of FreeWave's connected devices portfolio.
- MM3 Series OEM An OEM wireless radio module designed for integration into industrial equipment and systems requiring reliable wireless connectivity.
- WaveContact Series Industrial connectivity devices for connecting and managing remote sensors and equipment in rugged environments.
- ZumEdge An edge computing gateway device with API Enabled IO for connecting sensors and providing edge data processing capabilities.
- Satellite Solutions Satellite-based connectivity solutions for industrial remote operations where traditional cellular coverage is unavailable.
- Cellular SIMs Global cellular SIM cards with automatic carrier switching for reliable, cost-effective, low-latency connectivity for fixed and mobile industrial assets.
Quantifiable outcome
- Eliminates static IP exposure and reduces breach risks through deny-by-default security model
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use FreeWave Technologies
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
FreeWave Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
FreeWave Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NetFoundrycoreStrategic partnership integrating NetFoundry's Zero Trust networking technology into FreeWave's IIoT solutions. NetFoundry provides embedded zero trust connectivity that makes connected products unreachable from underlay networks. Combined solution enables customers to move away from traditional VPN security to an impermeable, threat-resistant architecture without disrupting existing firewalls.
- KeyfactorcorePartnership bringing Keyfactor's digital identity security expertise to FreeWave's IIoT portfolio. Keyfactor provides comprehensive PKI solutions and certificate lifecycle automation to ensure data integrity and device authentication across IIoT networks. Solution prevents unauthorized device access and reduces risks of expired certificate vulnerabilities.
- ModuSensecoreFreeWave acquired 51% controlling stake in Waikato-based ModuSense, a provider of SaaS solutions for industrial IoT. Strategic integration aims to enhance global hardware and software capabilities for industrial remote operations, combining FreeWave's rugged devices with ModuSense's SaaS platform.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FreeWave Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cisco (Industrial IoT / IoT Operations): Broad incumbent with industrial IoT networking (Catalyst IR, IoT Field Network Director, Cyber Vision) and zero-trust security across IT/OT; larger and broader but competes for the same industrial connectivity budgets.
- HPE Aruba Networking: Enterprise networking incumbent with ruggedized switches and SD-WAN/zero-trust security services; overlaps in industrial-grade connectivity and security overlay capabilities for distributed sites.
- Fortinet: Cybersecurity incumbent with FortiGate, zero-trust network access, and OT security offerings that increasingly bundle industrial-grade protection; competes directly with Zentry at the security-overlay layer.
- Belden (Hirschmann): Major industrial networking incumbent offering rugged switches, routers, and connectivity under the Hirschmann brand; broader portfolio but directly comparable in OT-grade industrial Ethernet and wireless.
Direct peers
- MultiTech Systems: Long-standing industrial M2M/IoT hardware vendor with cellular modems, routers, and LoRa gateways for remote industrial applications; serves overlapping energy, utility, and agricultural verticals.
- Moxa: Industrial networking specialist offering rugged Ethernet switches, serial device servers, and wireless solutions for harsh-environment OT deployments — closely comparable rugged networking focus.
- Sierra Wireless (Semtech): Closest direct competitor in industrial-grade cellular gateways, edge routers, and IoT connectivity platforms for energy, utilities, and transportation — overlapping rugged hardware and remote-management offerings with FreeWave's portfolio.
- Digi International: Direct competitor in industrial IoT connectivity (Digi IX routers, cellular gateways, edge compute) with comparable ruggedized form factors targeting energy, utilities, and industrial automation customers.
- Cambium Networks: Wireless networking specialist offering industrial-grade point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radios for remote industrial, utility, and rural applications; directly comparable wireless connectivity portfolio.
- Cradlepoint (Ericsson): Direct competitor in cellular and wireless edge gateways for enterprise and industrial sites; both companies target distributed-asset connectivity with cloud-managed services and ruggedized hardware.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FreeWave Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceFreeWave Technologies compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
FreeWave Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FreeWave Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
FreeWave Technologies subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
FreeWave Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FreeWave Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FreeWave Technologies
What does FreeWave Technologies do?
FreeWave Technologies designs, manufactures, and sells rugged wireless networking hardware (industrial radios, cellular gateways, edge computers, satellite solutions, cellular SIMs) and the Zentry zero trust security software overlay for connecting and securing remote industrial operations. The integrated portfolio enables industrial customers in energy, utilities, agriculture, and defense to deploy industrial IoT networks in harsh environments with continuous authentication, microsegmentation, and guaranteed data delivery. Products are designed, manufactured, and tested in the USA with hazardous-location (C1D2) and extreme-temperature certifications.
Is FreeWave Technologies a public or private company?
FreeWave Technologies is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was FreeWave Technologies founded?
FreeWave Technologies was founded in 1993. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is FreeWave Technologies based?
FreeWave Technologies is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does FreeWave Technologies make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Rugged IoT Hardware Devices are the primary driver. The others are zentry Security Software.
Who are FreeWave Technologies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cisco (Industrial IoT / IoT Operations), HPE Aruba Networking, Fortinet and Belden (Hirschmann). Direct peers are MultiTech Systems, Moxa, Sierra Wireless (Semtech), Digi International, Cambium Networks and Cradlepoint (Ericsson).
Does FreeWave Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for FreeWave Technologies.
What industry is FreeWave Technologies in?
FreeWave Technologies's product category is Industrial IoT Connectivity Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAGAD, Industrial/OT Private Connectivity (Factory, Mining, Ports), with a secondary code of HDAFAJAF, Serial/Fieldbus-to-Ethernet Device Connectivity (Device Servers/Protocol Gateways). Its NAICS code is 334220 and its SIC code is 3576.