Access Partnership

ABOUT US

Since 1999, Access Partnership has been helping some of the world’s leading telecommunications companies, investment groups and government agencies to gain access to new markets, obtain valuable spectrum and introduce new services and organisations into previously underserved markets.

Working across the satellite, mobile and fixed line telecommunications sectors, our expertise in the areas of government relations, regulatory affairs and technical analysis means we are able to provide our clients with a range of solutions that take care of all of their trade, regulation and licensing needs.

Our clients come from a broad range of industry stakeholders such as telecom companies, satellite operators, governments, industry associations, investment banks, investors as well as related vertical industries such as oil & gas producers and first responder emergency services that require robust telecommunication networks for mission-critical communications. We are proud of the long-term relationships we have built with each of them.

PEOPLE

Our professionals are drawn from senior positions in the commercial and government sectors. Our collective experience in supporting companies across the globe, as well as helping governments and other multilateral organisations promote effective communications policy, means we are in a unique position when it comes to helping you get your communications projects off the ground.

Gregory Francis
Managing Director

Greg supports some of the world's largest network operators, governments, and equipment manufacturers in devising and executing market access strategies. His work encompasses spectrum and license acquisitions, government relations, and development of commercial alliances. Active in trade associations and policy fora in Europe, the United States, Africa and the Middle East, Greg also advises regional organisations and governments on best regulatory practices.

Greg has a background in government affairs, and has previously served on delegations to the to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and to various other regional and bilateral events. Greg previously consulted for the Foreign Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. During that time he was editor and ghost writer of manuscripts on international economics. He holds a Master of the Arts degree from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.

Kathryn Martin
Director, Washington, D.C. Office

Kathryn Martin obtains spectrum and service rights in foreign markets for a variety of military and commercial clients. She has broad experience negotiating with commercial and government entities to secure operating licenses, spectrum rights and interconnection agreements. An engineer by training, she represents clients’ technical interests at international fora such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Organization of American States (OAS) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Kathryn joined Access Partnership from the private sector, where she secured frequency access for a global voice and data network. Kathryn also served five years at the U.S. Department of State, where she led delegations of government and industry representatives to spectrum and standards-setting bodies at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. Kathryn holds a Master of the Arts degree in Telecommunications from George Washington University.

Colin Thomson
Director, Regulatory Engineering

Colin Thomson provides regulatory and technical support to wireless network operators, systems integrators and equipment manufacturers, ensuring the swift delivery of these services to market. His work includes the development of authorisation processes for new wireless technologies, and adjustment of regulation to ensure that clients’ service offerings are compliant with international and national regulatory requirements. Colin is active in a number of CEPT and Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) working groups, and maintains daily contact with Europe’s National Regulatory Authorities.

Colin joined Access Partnership in 2005 from Vislink Communications Ltd., where he was Technical Director, responsible for the development of communications technologies for the broadcast and defence markets. Colin has also held management and engineering positions with a global network operator, where he supported some of the world’s leading energy companies, and with EADS where he served as a project manager and engineer. Colin began his career as a research scientist with the UK Defence Research Agency working on Naval research projects, where he completed a Master of Science degree in Microwave Solid State Physics.

Mike Thompson
Project Director

Mike Thompson provides technical and engineering support to a number of network operators in the terrestrial and satellite markets. Bringing many years of experience in the regulatory engineering field, Mike provides innovative solutions to market entry, network expansion and integration problems that arise from licensing and authorisation restrictions.

Mike is a chartered engineer (CEng), and a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE). He has managed regulatory programmes within a global satellite operator, including interaction with bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) and the Conference of European Post and Telecommunications administrations (CEPT). Prior to joining the private sector, Mike was a team leader within the UK Radiocommunications Agency. Mike received a Master of the Science degree in satellite communications from the University of Surrey.