Secure Telecommunications Infrastructure
Building resilient fiber, copper, microwave, and satellite connectivity networks in challenging environments
Our Story
Founded in 2004 as a father-son business, Babtel began by providing VoIP, SATCOM, and WiMAX solutions to security contractors in Baghdad’s Red Zone during the Iraq War. What started as telecommunications support in one of the world’s most challenging environments has evolved into a global operation delivering mission-critical connectivity solutions.
Our journey has been defined by resilience and adaptation. We began as a VoIP communications provider; pivoted to become an ISP; and now custom develop and build solutions to provide best-value Telecom and IoT. Throughout this evolution, we’ve consistently tackled complex challenges in high-pressure environments, transforming obstacles into opportunities for innovation. Our ability to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances has become one of our greatest strengths.
After navigating the challenges of the rapid Iraq withdrawal in 2011, we rebuilt through small projects across Iraq, Afghanistan, and the US, developing new capabilities that would become foundational to our future growth. In 2014, we secured our first US Government contract in Qatar, expanding to become the telecommunications provider for Al Udeid Air Base—completing an unprecedented base-wide commercial network buildout in just five months.
Today, Babtel empowers DoD, DoS, DHS, DoJ, NGOs and civilian personnel with reliable and secure networking services globally. Our technical expertise, combined with our deep understanding of operational challenges in difficult environments, enables us to deliver solutions that others simply cannot.
Our Expertise
Through two decades of operating in the world's most challenging environments, we've developed specialized capabilities that set us apart from traditional telecommunications providers. Babtel specializes in:
Proprietary Technology Solutions
Developing custom hardware and software that delivers performance at competitive costsEnterprise Network Services
Designing, implementing, and managing complex network infrastructures for military bases and government facilitiesCybersecurity
Providing comprehensive security monitoring and threat prevention through our dedicated security operations teamsTechnology-Optimized Life Support
Implementing IoT solutions to monitor and manage critical base resources like fuel, water, and powerGlobal Technical Support
Delivering responsive customer service through our distributed support centers across multiple time zones
We Work With
We work with the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Army & Air Force Exchange Service, and the UK Royal Air Force.
Our Management Team
Our leadership team combines decades of telecommunications expertise with a dedication to innovation, guiding Babtel’s mission to deliver reliable connectivity solutions in the world’s most challenging environments.
Donald Zilkha
Chairman of the Board
Mr. Donald E. Zilkha is a Co-founder and Managing Partner of Sciens Venture Partners, L.P. Mr. Zilkha is responsible for fund raising, provided leadership and a strategic direction of portfolio development, transaction analysis and execution, monitoring and interaction with portfolio managements for SVP I. Mr. Zilkha has more than 28 years of investment and merchant banking experience. He was Managing Partner of Sciens Capital Management, LLC. He founded Zilkha & Company and was involved in all of its investments.
Before founding Zilkha & Company in 1986, Mr. Zilkha spent five years at James D. Wolfensohn, Inc. from 1982 to 1986 with various responsibilities from mergers & acquisitions to general partner of the venture capital fund. Prior to joining Wolfensohn, Mr. Zilkha begun work at Morgan Guaranty Trust Company in 1973 where he assumed positions of increasing responsibility working in Brazil, France and Germany, eventually sharing responsibility for the mergers & acquisitions department of the Bank in London. He serves as Chairman at New Colt Holding Corp.
Mr. Zilkha has been Director of Electronic Retailing Systems International Inc. since 1993. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Wesleyan University. Mr. Zilkha served as a Director of Advanced Interactive Systems, Inc. He earned a BA from Wesleyan University in 1973, where he studied economics, philosophy and history.
Christopher Catranis
Chief Executive Officer
Chris is a seasoned entrepreneur who began his career in 1979 by founding an international trade company with warehousing, freight forwarding, satellite telecommunications and civil engineering operations in Europe, Asia and Africa.
In 1995, having spent close to 20 years abroad, Chris returned to the US to found Skyway Partners, the first in the US triple-play building-centric Local Exchange Carrier Network, which serviced apartment communities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and which was eventually taken over by one of the largest landlords in the region.
2001-2003 he owned and operated Subscriber Networks, an early Application Service Provider for property owners of multiple dwelling units (MDUs) that operated their own voice, video and data networks. In 2003, Chris traveled to Iraq in search or a new business venture and in a short period of time formed BABTEL, a company which won an AAFES contract to build a managed IP network on one of the largest US military installations in Iraq. Chris managed that network until the withdrawal of the US troops in 2008. Chris’ activities in Iraq have been detailed in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and he has been featured on the Voice of America Radio network.
Chris spent most of 2012-2014 working independently as a consultant for several companies in Afghanistan. During that time, has also developed a menu of new commercial applications for Cloud-based network services, which BABTEL has deployed in CAS and AUAB Qatar.
Chris remains a COO of BABTEL; while splitting his time 50/50 between Qatar and US. Chris received his BS in International Trade and Export Marketing from Syracuse University in 1978.
Megan Johnston
Controller
Megan Johnston began her finance career at Bank of America’s credit department while working through college. She comes to us with a degree in general studies and a minor in finance. In addition to her education and experience she has numerous accounting software certifications, and audit training.
Based on Megan’s finance experience she became Operations Manager for a telecom company, directing all finance and operations. She left the telecom company to work for a publicly traded media company as Director of Operations. In Megan’s director position she managed the company’s financial and operational tasks, including all financial reporting and audits required for public companies. After leaving the media company Megan spent eight years as a controller and financial consultant for multi-million dollar businesses.
Megan lives with her husband, daughter and two dogs in Kennett Square, PA.
Peter Catranis
VP Technology
Mr. Catranis is responsible for network and solutions architecture. Most recently he led the design of the Al Udeid Air Base, USAF and the Camp As Sayliyah, US Army commercial internet networks, both located outside of Doha, Qatar.
Mr. Catranis worked for Brandywine Technology Partners during 2012-2014 as a Senior Network Engineer in a consulting role handling network infrastructure related design, implementation, and troubleshooting as well as on-boarding and ongoing network management of managed services clients.
He worked for Babtel starting in 2005, beginning at the Lebanese Regional Office. During the Iraq War he installed and maintained over 16 bases with VSAT networks and oversaw Babtel’s construction of the Telos Corp’s WLAN for the US Air Force at LSA Anaconda.
From 2008 to 2011 he served as the lead Network Engineer for a ISP contract at Joint Base Balad, heading up network design and operations for one of the largest bases in Iraq, 40,000 troops and contractors at its height.
Mr. Catranis holds the CCNP, CCDP, CCNA-Voice, ITIL, VSP and VTSP certifications.