Telecom Ramblings

Looking ahead to the next stage of network infrastructure, Ciena has lifted the curtain on its next-generation technology optical platform. They have announced WaveLogic Ai, a fully programmable coherent modem which will underly the company’s upcoming upgrades to its product portfolio. [Read more →]

The rumors of talks between CenturyLink and Level 3 were not just true, they were imminently true.  The boards of both CenturyLink and Level 3 Communications have approved a merger agreement valued at $34B including debt assumed.  The deal has the potential to dramatically shift the infrastructure playing field, and will take a while to process fully — at least for me. [Read more →]

Along with the blockbuster news of its merger with CenturyLink, Level 3 also reported its earnings this morning, a few days early — getting all the news out there at once apparently.  Revenues were down sequentially, both total and core, as weakness in both the US and Europe was only partially offset by a big quarter in Latin America.  Earnings per share of $0.40 was a couple pennies light.  Here’s a summary of their numbers in some context: [Read more →]

BroadSoft is celebrating Halloween with an inorganic move.  This morning they announced the acquisition of VoIP Logic, a wholesaler of VoIP and UC services that has traditionally focused on smaller service provider customers.  As with most of BroadSoft’s targets in recent years, they were also already a part of BroadSoft’s ecosystem with products built off of Broadworks. [Read more →]

We have a new job listing to peruse over on the Ramblings Jobs Board from a familiar face. [Read more →]

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Robin Kent, director of European operations at Adax

The telecoms industry is undergoing a huge transition. There’s a brand new connected world out there and reports suggest that by 2020 some four billion people will have made the move and be subscribed to the LTE horizon. In light of this, [Read more →]

That’s the rumor that hit the markets earlier today. The idea that the CenturyLink and Level 3 could come to an agreement on each other’s value is a bit surprising to me, but less so than in the past.  The markets are taking it seriously, as both company’s stock prices were up around 10% on the day, though that suggests maybe they aren’t sure who is buying who here. But let’s take this a piece at a time just to lay the idea out there for thought. [Read more →]

Two Canadian expansions by US-based companies, some new Texas fiber, and some more connectivity for the Jersey Shore: [Read more →]

Google and its Alphabet parent is apparently not quite as hot on fiber as it once was.  According to this post yesterday on Google Fiber’s blog, they are retrenching and pausing their plans to move into some new cities.  The division is apparently letting go some 9% of its workforce, and the head of the company’s Access unit, Craig Barratt, is leaving as well.   [Read more →]

A customer win, an expansion, and two earnings reports: [Read more →]

This article was authored by Lachlan Colquhoun, and was originally posted on telecomasia.net.

AT&T’s mega offer to buy Time Warner looks more defensive than transforming.  If it spends more than $120 billion on acquisitions in two years, can the telco survive and service that much debt? [Read more →]

Here are three metro and regional fiber news items to review: [Read more →]

EdgeConneX revealed a new and somewhat unique partnership out in southern California. They have teamed up with the regional fiber operator Electric Lightwave to create an ‘Edge Landing Station’ down in San Diego. [Read more →]

We have some M&A to report from the managed services side of things, with assets changing hands between two familiar private equity players.  Berkshire Partners has entered into an agreement to buy Masergy from ABRY Partners.   [Read more →]

Uniti Fiber announced some expansion plans out in the Midwest this morning. They will be moving to better support the backhaul needs of one of the largest wireless carriers out in southeastern Iowa and the northern and central regions of Illinois. [Read more →]

The world of interconnection has been changing rapidly over the last few years.  What was once utilized only by large carriers in a handful of facilities around the world is now an ecosystem open to enterprise, content and cloud networks that reaches way out to the edge. One of the new breed of interconnection-focused companies is Console, which has developed a global software interconnection platform, blending automation with aspects of social networking to expand the ecosystem even wider. With us today to tell us where they are and how they got there is Console Chief Strategy Officer and Founder Al Burgio. [Read more →]

I may have been skeptical, but AT&T’s interest in Time Warner turned out to be the real thing. Today they agreed to purchase the media giant for $107.50 per share in a deal worth $109B with Time Warner’s debt included. [Read more →]

Some UC and two submarine cable items: [Read more →]

That’s the rumor percolating through the markets now anyway.  Executives of AT&T and Time Warner are said to be or recently have been in ‘informal talks’ about a possible merger.  If a deal were to actually happen, it would be bigger than AT&T’s purchase of DirecTV last year given Time Warner’s current marketcap north of $60B. [Read more →]

Here’s a few items from network operators from this week: [Read more →]

Verizon’s Q3 results were a bit mixed. The telecommunications giant posted revenues of $30.94B during the quarter and down 6.7% over the same period last year. Analysts had been looking for something more like $31.14B. But on the other hand, adjusted net income of $1.01 per share was a couple pennies higher than anticipated. Verizon’s stock is down some in response, but it’s early yet so who knows. [Read more →]

Today we will delve a bit into the back office, where the fortunes of a firm can be easily won or lost.  After all the consolidation we have seen, most networks have become a complex mix of different vendors and vintages, and keeping track of it all is a growing challenge that costs firms money.  With us today to talk about the problem and how it’s newly introduced ITAM Robot and UC Analytics platforms address it is the CEO of Avotus, James Martino. [Read more →]

Digital Realty Trust made a big, highly anticipated announcement this morning.  They plan to build a giant new data center out in Chicago in the South Loop of the Chicago Central Business District.   [Read more →]