Network Bytes 3/28: DRS, Alpheus, TelePacific, Bullseye, Masergy

Here’s a group of quick takes on interesting items this week from the competitive side of the tracks.

It’s not often I learn about both a metro fiber operator I haven’t heard of before and a technology I don’t have a clue about. Ohio-based DRS LLC operates 800 miles of fiber, mostly in Youngstown and Columbus – a footprint I have now added to my metro fiber maps pages. They are breathing new life into maxed out fiber by using SFSW technology from Champion ONE. That’s Single-Fiber-Single-Wavelength, in which traffic in both directions travels over the same wave. Hmmm, I’ll have to read more about that one.

Texas-based Alpheus has been quiet since being purchased by private equity firm Gores. Gores seems to be working to expand the company’s revenue opportunities via the channel, as they have entered an agreement with telecom master agent Telarus. Telarus will henceforth add all that Texas regional and metro depth to its inventory. There was talk of Gores combining Alpheus with its other fiber holding, First Communications – I wonder if they’ve made up their minds yet.

Meanwhile, western CLEC TelePacific also brought in another master agency, adding Outreach Technology to their list of channel partners. TelePacific bought Tel West last year, and seems likely to follow that up with additional inorganic expansions this year if the opportunity arises.

Up in Michigan, Bullseye Telecom has partnered with regional master agency Telegration. They’ll be working to expand sales of Bullseye’s hosted IP bundle, amongst other things.

And finally, managed network services provider Masergy has selected ADVA’s FSP 150 to power its Ethernet services to global enterprises. ADVA’s gear allows Masergy better monitoring and testing capabilities, which in turn enable better service to enterprise customers. Masergy was aiming for an IPO a while back but is owned by ABRY Partners these days, just like Sidera and Telx. One wonders what those three would look like together.

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Categories: CLEC · Metro fiber · Telecom Equipment