Karin Williams formed RioTel in 1999 after playing an integral role in launching the Sprint wireless network in Houston, Texas. As a senior member of Sprint’s Transport Engineering Team, she helped design and implement their backhaul and trunking network, from the ground up. This 2 year Boot Camp-style experience launched her journey of “Building Tomorrow’s Networks” and is where she earned the nickname “RIO”.It is also where she built an even more important network—her industry network. Post-launch, many of Karin’s colleagues scattered throughout the country to build other wireless networks, calling on Rio to assemble a team to design and implement their network.
Founder, Karin Williams, is proud of the nickname “RIO” bestowed by an engineering launch team, directed by a Marine.
A RIO (Radar Intercept Operator) is the backseat to a Navy pilot; the one saying where to go and how; the one really flying the plane. (Remember Top Gun?) So, after helping launch the Houston Sprint wireless market in 1998, the name stuck. Reputation is everything in telecom and Karin decided to take her nickname along when she launched RioTel.
She and her Rio Team have been providing quality guidance and support to clients, Rio-style, ever since.