A company co-founded by a Denver technology executive has received $10 million in private financing to develop a business to extend the reach of high-speed Internet signals on copper wire phone networks.

Xtendwave is co-founded and chaired by Mort Aaronson, who once ran Ricochet and Aerie Networks in Denver.

Xtendwave has nearly 30 employees in the Dallas area and a half-dozen in Denver, Aaronson said.

Aaronson said the computer chipset technology can be added to a house modem and DSL terminal to extend a broadband signal to more than 20,000 feet, compared with the usual 4,000 to 7,000 feet.

"It's obviously a rural play," but also could be used in urban areas, Aaronson said.

But Xtendwave still must sell telcos and equipment manufacturers on the technology.

Aaronson said the company is in "active discussions" with Latin American phone companies to place a first order.