Lots of Ethernet-related news in the past few days:
IPNETZONE went with XO Holdings (news, filings) for nationwide Ethernet access for the MPLS Exchange Platform it launched last September. XO has put enough money into the EoC market to have become one of its larger players, with services in forty or more markets via over 400 LSOs, and hence offers IPNETZONE an easy route to a much larger customer base. IPNETZONE has been busy assembling network assets nationwide over the past year, having inked deals with Level 3 and AboveNet as well as connecting up via CENX. I don’t know much about them yet, but will keep watching.
Speaking of abvt, they also had some news the other day. They have signed on with the Ethernet Exchange of tndm, with an initial connection at 75 Broad in New York City. AboveNet had already been working with CENX and Equinix, so this connection rounds out the set. I asked AboveNet CEO Bill LaPerch about their plans for Ethernet exchanges back in December, and he was definitely looking at the potential of Ethernet exchanges both as a buyer and a seller going forward.
Meanwhile, Telx Group (news, filings) has enhanced its own Ethernet Exchange product, which is of course allied with that of tndm. They unveiled enhancements to their self service web portal, offering ‘quick, customized management of all aspects of the service, including discovery, order status, upcoming activity and trouble ticket activity’. Telx got started a bit later than others in this new and fast moving segment, but they have the benefit of long experience in the interconnection business as well as being more nimble than an Equinix but with greater resources at their disposal than a CENX.
And also recently, CENX continued its success in adding international partners across the Pacific. This time it was Philippine incumbent PLTD that signed on to their Ethernet Exchange. The initial connection will be in Hong Kong, enabled by the Asia-America Gateway cable. CENX has been cleaning up with large telecoms based in the Eastern hemisphere, having added China Telecom, China Netcom, Reliance, KDDI, and Telstra all in the last six months.
The Ethernet exchange business continues to sizzle, as everyone continues to jockey for position and prove out the economics.
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Categories: Ethernet · Internet Backbones
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Tata is not connected to CENX, where did you see this?
You’re right, my memory seems to be playing tricks on me today – at least I can’t find the reference I apparently dreamed I had seen. Too much caffeine perhaps. I have corrected the article.
The only public statements I can find from Tata are mostly along the lines of “we’ll wait and see” for exchanges.