Telecom Ramblings

As long time readers know, I keep a list of metro fiber and lit building statistics.  But as some correctly point out, lit buildings are not all equal and by itself this information only shows one aspect of fiber depth.  Hence, I’ve been trying to dig a bit deeper to find other data that is comparable across the sector that offers further insight.  Today I’m offering up the first version of a compilation of on-net towers per operator, assembled from public data for the US market only (for now).   [Read more →]

Just before the Thanksgiving break, reports emerged of a breakthrough in the world of quantum internet security. The idea of using quantum physics to prevent eavesdropping on data transmissions has been edging closer and closer to reality for some years now. The brains at Toshiba and Cambridge have [Read more →]

It’s a holiday weekend already in the US of course, but there’s still a little news yet to catch up with on the US regional front, with items from OCG, Dakota Carrier, Windstream, and NaviSite. [Read more →]

This article was authored by John C. Tanner, and was originally posted on telecomasia.net.

ITEM: Researchers claim that LTE base stations can be jammed and shut down with a simple trick and a cheap transmitter. [Read more →]

Time for a quick look at some news from the international front from Pacnet, Level 3, euNetworks, VTLWaveNet, and AT&T. [Read more →]

There’s another piece of metro fiber infrastructure that may be on the block out there, at least if yesterday’s transaction between Quanta Services and Dycom Industries is any indication. Quanta is selling its telecommunications subsidiaries for $275M in cash to Dycom, which specializes in telecommunications contracting and related services.  [Read more →]

Colt Group (LON:COLT, news) said yesterday that it has made 100 Gigabit Ethernet available across its pan-European footprint. The deployment leverages the company’s Infinera DTN gear, which powers their infrastructure across 18,000 buildings, 20 owned data centers, and 39 metro areas. [Read more →]

In a new content delivery alliance between the CDN and telecommunications industries, Akamai (NASDAQ:AKAM, news, filings) and Orange are teaming up, putting Orange’s global telecommunications assets to use in ways more efficient for the delivery of content.  [Read more →]

The carrier neutral data center giant Equinix (NASDAQ:EQIX, news, filings) made a move on a completely new part of the world this morning, announcing the purchase of its first data center in the Middle East and an alliance with a regional operator to smooth the way forward.  [Read more →]

There’s a very interesting article over at Capacity Magazine that takes a look at the future of European fiber networks in light of the coming expiration of the IRUs signed in the bubble years. Yes, the golden age of the fiber swap (1997-2000) was 12-15 years and four presidential elections ago now.  The industry is sliding inexorably toward having to figure out what [Read more →]

For all the talk about how we don’t have enough competition in wireless, one willing competitor is finding it hard to force the door open enough to slip in. Dish Network and its Chairman, Charlie Ergen, have been trying to shoulder their way into the space for more than a year now, and according to the WSJ today the FCC is about to add some weight to the other side of the door once again. [Read more →]

Thanksgiving may be around the corner, but Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO, news, filings) was too hungry to wait, and yesterday announced its intention to buy Meraki. The purchase, which will cost them $1.2B in cash and incentives, is yet another inorganic part of Cisco’s cloud strategy. Last week they also [Read more →]

We have three new job listings on the Ramblings’ Jobs board this week, including one from Birch Communications in Georgia and two from Noel Communications up in the Pacific Northwest. [Read more →]

It’s not just a Friday it’s the Friday before the work-shortened Thanksgiving week and folks are surely ready to bolt. Here’s a quick look at some of the other interesting news this week that I didn’t get to for one reason or another, including items from Bandwidth’s inetwork division, ViaSest, Birch, Enventis, and US Signal. [Read more →]

The last fiber-fed word on the quarter goes to Zayo, which started its fiscal 2013 with an even more complex mix of organic and inorganic activity.  The AboveNet and FiberGate deals closed in Q3, US Carrier closed last month, and the new First Communications deal still has a few weeks left, which means following the numbers is a bit like taking a snapshot of a rail switchyard.  But it was the organic burst of [Read more →]

This article was authored by John C. Tanner, and was originally posted on telecomasia.net.

Here’s something you don’t see every day: a new Wimax network going live. [Read more →]

After a fine quarterly earnings report, Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO, news, filings) stopped off for dessert in the clouds. They announced this morning their intention to acquire Cloupia, which offers infrastructure management software. [Read more →]

A look at some overseas news from Orange Business, CDNetworks, Interoute, and the South Atlantic Cable System: [Read more →]

Broadview Networks is back from its prepackaged Chapter 11 surgery and ready to unveil its new look, emerging from an 11 week trip through chapter 11. With a new balance sheet in place, they hope to use the extra financial flexibility to invest in the cloud services market.  [Read more →]

CenturyLink (NYSE:CTL, news, filings) isn’t waiting any longer, and today jumped on the 100G bandwagon.  They are now offering 100G Ethernet Wavelengths across their US footprint plus Singapore and London.  Further expansion of the upgrade internationally is planned for early 2013.  Connectivity to its cloud offerings over at Savvis are [Read more →]

Over in Europe, Colt Group (LON:COLT, news) has raised the ante in the low latency wars between London and Frankfurt, but this time it’s not about tightening fiber tails and such.  In fact, it’s not about fiber at all, but microwave.  The pan-European operator announced that it will be augmenting its low latency fiber connectivity with a parallel microwave option, potentially cutting current speeds by [Read more →]

Here’s a set of quick takes on news of regional and channel interest, with items from Integra, Alpheus, CENIC, Earthlink, ColoAtl, and Telarus: [Read more →]

UK-based Vodafone Group (NYSE:VOD, news, filings) has had an interesting day, with both outsized losses and cash windfalls to keep investors hopping. [Read more →]