Bertram Communications
Bertram Communications is a privately held Wisconsin holding company that delivers rural fixed wireless and fiber broadband across the Midwest and sells proprietary ISP management software (Powercode) and wireless backhaul hardware (Trango) to other ISPs globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersRandom Lake, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Bertram Communications does
Bertram Communications, LLC is a privately held Wisconsin-based holding company founded in 2003 by Jim Bertram that operates as a multi-platform rural connectivity specialist. Through six wholly owned subsidiaries (Bertram Internet, Door County Broadband, XL Broadband, Bertram Fiber, Trango Networks, and Powercode), the company delivers fixed wireless broadband internet using point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radio technology to residential and commercial customers in rural and underserved communities across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana, and is now layering fiber-to-the-premises service onto that footprint.
The company's technology stack is vertically integrated across the ISP value chain. Trango Networks designs and manufactures licensed and unlicensed microwave backhaul radios from sub-6 GHz to mmWave bands, including terrain-link mapping for network planning, and sells globally to ISPs, WISPs, mobile carriers, utilities, transportation, government, education, and industrial markets. Powercode provides an all-in-one ISP management software platform covering billing, provisioning, network monitoring, scheduling, inventory, and ticketing, developed over 15+ years of internal use before external commercialization. Bertram Fiber extends the access layer beyond fixed wireless into fiber optics.
Bertram generates revenue through monthly recurring residential and commercial internet subscriptions, equipment rental and equipment assurance fees, one-time installation charges, hardware sales (Trango), and software licensing (Powercode), supported by field sales and technician-based installation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; service agreements reference tier-based residential and commercial plans alongside a 5.5% broadband recovery fee and various ancillary charges. The company operates regional offices in Random Lake and Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, and Grant Park, Illinois, with global hardware distribution through Trango.
Bertram Communications firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bertram Communications
- Legal name
- Bertram Communications, LLC
- Website
- https://bertramcommunications.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bertram Communications is a privately held Wisconsin holding company that delivers rural fixed wireless and fiber broadband across the Midwest and sells proprietary ISP management software (Powercode) and wireless backhaul hardware (Trango) to other ISPs globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bertram Communications industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rural Internet Services
- NAICS
- Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112), All Other Telecommunications (5178)
- SIC
- Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Communications Services, Nec (4899)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rural & Regional ISPs (HDAIADAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP/FTTH) Broadband Providers (HDAIABAC)
Keywords
Where Bertram Communications is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Random Lake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Bertram Communications business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Internet Access Services: Monthly subscription fees for residential and commercial fixed wireless broadband internet access. Customers pay recurring monthly fees for connectivity along with equipment rental charges and equipment assurance plans.
- Equipment Rental Fees: One-time equipment rental fees for Bertram-provided customer premise equipment (radios, antennas). Monthly equipment assurance plans available for coverage of antenna replacement.
- Trango Wireless Hardware Sales: Sale of point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless radios and associated accessories for ISP and enterprise network deployments. Trango products include licensed and unlicensed systems from sub-6 GHz to mmWave bands.
- Powercode ISP Software Licensing: Software licensing for Powercode ISP management platform including billing, provisioning, network monitoring, scheduling, inventory, and ticketing. Offered to ISPs of all sizes as an all-in-one solution.
- Service Installation Fees: One-time installation fees charged to customers for initial service setup. Deposit is refundable if service is not working within 30 days.
- Professional Services and Support: Technical support services including on-site service visits billed at trip charges plus time and materials. Also includes optional bypass equipment for self-service troubleshooting.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Residential Internet Service |
| Subscription | Monthly | Commercial Internet Service |
| Subscription | Monthly | Equipment Assurance Plans |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Bertram Communications product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bertram Communications operates as a holding company providing fixed wireless broadband internet access to rural and underserved Midwestern communities through multiple subsidiary ISP brands (Bertram Internet, Door County Broadband, XL Broadband, Bertram Fiber). The company also develops and licenses Powercode, an all-in-one ISP management software platform (billing, provisioning, network monitoring, scheduling, inventory, ticketing), and manufactures Trango Networks wireless backhaul equipment (licensed and unlicensed PtP/PtMP radios) sold to other ISPs and WISPs.
Product overview
Bertram Communications operates as a multi-platform internet service provider holding company with three core product lines: (1) ISP Services under multiple brands including Bertram Internet (Wisconsin), Door County Broadband (Wisconsin), XL Broadband (Illinois/Indiana), and Bertram Fiber (Wisconsin fiber rollout); (2) Hardware through Trango Networks offering wireless backhaul equipment including PtP and PtMP radios, and (3) Software via Powercode, an all-in-one ISP management platform providing billing, network monitoring, provisioning, scheduling, inventory, and ticketing. The company also offers associated email and web hosting services. The portfolio is unified through shared ownership under Bertram Communications while maintaining distinct regional and functional brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Internet Access Service (Bertram Internet, Door County Broadband, XL Broadband, Bertram Fiber) Fixed wireless broadband internet access delivered to residential and commercial customers across central/eastern Wisconsin (Bertram Internet), the Door County peninsula around Sturgeon Bay, WI (Door County Broadband), Will/Grundy/Kankakee counties in IL and parts of Lake County, IN (XL Broadband), and Random Lake, WI (Bertram Fiber). Customers subscribe to monthly service tiers with associated equipment rental and equipment assurance plans.
- Powercode ISP Management Software
Quantifiable outcome
- 15,000+ customers served across 4 states
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bertram Communications
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bertram Communications technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Bertram Communications partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- PowercodecorePowercode is a subsidiary company of Bertram Communications offering all-in-one ISP management software. The software handles billing, provisioning, network monitoring, customer profiles, scheduling, inventory, and ticketing. Powercode has been developed and refined for over 15 years. Bertram uses Powercode internally to manage its own ISP operations, giving it unique insight into ISP requirements.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bertram Communications competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bertram Communications social profiles
Digital presenceBertram Communications financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bertram Communications leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bertram Communications subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Bertram Communications funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bertram Communications M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bertram Communications
What does Bertram Communications do?
Bertram Communications operates as a holding company providing fixed wireless broadband internet access to rural and underserved Midwestern communities through multiple subsidiary ISP brands (Bertram Internet, Door County Broadband, XL Broadband, Bertram Fiber). The company also develops and licenses Powercode, an all-in-one ISP management software platform (billing, provisioning, network monitoring, scheduling, inventory, ticketing), and manufactures Trango Networks wireless backhaul equipment (licensed and unlicensed PtP/PtMP radios) sold to other ISPs and WISPs.
Is Bertram Communications a public or private company?
Bertram Communications is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bertram Communications founded?
Bertram Communications was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bertram Communications based?
Bertram Communications is headquartered in Random Lake, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bertram Communications make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Internet Access Services are the primary driver. The others are equipment Rental Fees, trango Wireless Hardware Sales, powercode ISP Software Licensing, service Installation Fees and professional Services and Support.
Does Bertram Communications have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bertram Communications.
What industry is Bertram Communications in?
Bertram Communications's product category is Rural Internet Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIADAI, Rural & Regional ISPs, with a secondary code of HDAIABAC, Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP/FTTH) Broadband Providers. Its NAICS code is 51711 and its SIC code is 4813.