Rich Tehrani has an interesting piece on the the implications of the NAP of the Americas falling into the hands of one carrier (Verizon), following yesterday’s surprise M&A announcement. It’s not about net neutrality though, but about carrier neutrality which is a very different thing. The purchase stands to change the landscape of interconnection for a large chunk of the internet in ways that cannot be foreseen.
The NAP of the Americas has for some time been one of the top neutral interconnection spots in the carrier hotel market across the USA, and its specialty amongst that group is obviously its position as a principal gateway to all of Latin America. Verizon’s intent to purchase the facility would by definition take away the facility’s carrier neutral status, whether Verizon actually changes anything about how it does business or not.
But does that mean the end is nigh? That Verizon can and will use this position to throttle competition and threaten the business model of other operators? Not by a long shot, because this is a very competitive space in which opportunities rise and fall and many are willing to sink money into. Actually, I really think Verizon cares little about this angle – their purchase is about cloud services. But it doesn’t matter what Verizon thinks or does with regard to the NAP of the Americas and its unique position. Because they are not only a carrier but a goliath amongst carriers, there will be an industry response nonetheless.
What it means is that some other carrier neutral hub in Miami (existing or not-yet-even-on-paper) may soon have an opportunity to move into the carrier neutral void left behind and become the next gateway to Latin America. Actually, between CoreSite, Equinix, Digital Realty, QTS, Dupont Fabros, i/o Data Centers, Data Foundry, InterXion, Telx, Telehouse, and many others – I expect that any such void would be filled rather quickly. In fact, I’d be surprised if half of those companies don’t already have hastily scheduled meetings set up this morning about the potential opportunities that might have arisen overnight in Miami.
Heck, Verizon might even sell off that piece before such a response materializes. As I said, I think that for Verizon this is about the cloud services and the federal contract penetration, not the carrier neutral colo.
What do you think? Is Verizon + Terremark a threat to the status quo of the internet? Leave behind your thoughts in the comments below!
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Categories: Datacenter · ILECs, PTTs · Mergers and Acquisitions
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To me it would make the most sense to sell off the physical assets, It would seem that they would have more value in someone elses hands. Of course as a part of the deal to sell them, I would include a sweetheart deal for present and future space at below market costs.
That does seem reasonable.
I know from the early days of the NAP that it was owned by a group called TECOTA, which was a related company to Terremark. TMRK controlled the space via leases, but did not own it. Not sure if the actual building was included in the $1.4b sale, as I think that price would be cheap if it actually included the real estate ownership (see Google & 111 8th, NYC).
I would look for TECOTA (or if included in the sale, VZ) to sell to DLR or another REIT or RE Fund since the credit profile of the underlying tenant is now much higher (VZ v TMRK), thus demanding a lower cap rate.
I agree that VZ purchased TMRK mostly because (1) cloud services making penetration in fed markets, (2) VZ really likes being in Culpeper VA campus and see expansion opportunities there (3) to stunt CSC’s growth into cloud services at that campus.
I would be surprised if VZ didn’t just try to buy that campus first and found that TMRK was unwilling because it was too intertwined within the current fabric of TMRK (vs. 3-5 years ago when NAP was the future).
just my thoughts…
What no article about NAVISITE being taken out by Time Warner Cable???
I think this class of DC’s make alot more sense to purchase to round out cloud offerings, ie Peer 1 Networks, Navisite, etc.
Hey, I do try to be everywhere at all times, but sometimes things happen when I’m indisposed for a few hours!