In this economy there’s no such thing as too many job listings, and we have another new one on the Ramblings’ Jobs board this week from Lightower Fiber Networks. Lightower is looking for an [Read more →]
Friday Roundup: Integra, Fairpoint, EdgeCast
August 17th, 2012
TGIF everybody. Before you go off to enjoy the weekend, here’s a few more quick looks at other news this week from across the sector: [Read more →]
Verizon’s Spectrum Grab Enters Home Stretch as Dish Simmers
August 17th, 2012
While the media has been getting ahead of itself in places, Verizon Wireless does seem to have overcome the last hurdle to its $3.6B acquisition of AWS spectrum from the cable MSOs. The Department of Justice approved the deal yesterday, with a condition or two attached, and now they’re just waiting for the [Read more →]
Wi-Fi is killing mobile advertising
August 16th, 2012
This article was authored by John C. Tanner, and was originally posted on telecomasia.net.
Operators are increasingly enthusiastic about the prospects of Wi-Fi offload in their 4G roadmaps. But that’s going to be bad news for mobile advertising – at least until Facebook steps in to save the day. [Read more →]
Zayo Buys the Rest of USCarrier
August 16th, 2012

In an M&A move that substantially expands the breadth of the company’s Southeastern footprint, Zayo finally cleaned up its relationship with US Carrier by agreeing to purchase the 50% they didn’t already own. The deal adds some 3,700 miles of regional fiber primarily in Georgia with connectivity into Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama. [Read more →]
Colo Bytes: CoreSite, Interxion, Telx, Savvis, Level 3, KDDI
August 16th, 2012
Here’s a quick roundup of news from the colo and cloud sector, including items from CoreSite, Interxion, Telx, Savvis, Level 3, and KDDI: [Read more →]
Cisco Kicks a Little Fiscal Q4 Butt
August 15th, 2012
Networking equipment giant Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO, news, filings) cruised through its fiscal fourth quarter according to the company’s release this afternoon. Revenues of $11.7B and non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.47 were each one notch above analyst expectations. Guidance for their fiscal Q1 was [Read more →]
Beyond Broadview: Other Targets for Icahn and XO
August 15th, 2012
On Monday we learned that Carl Icahn made a bid for Broadview Networks, the northeastern CLEC with several hundred on-net buildings. The initial approach was rebuffed, although it could easily be followed up on. But if not, what other telecom assets might Icahn be interested in buying? [Read more →]
CDN Roundup: Netflix, HighWinds, ChinaCache, CDNetworks, AT&T
August 15th, 2012
Lots to catch up on in the CDN sector this week, which has been relatively quiet lately otherwise: [Read more →]
Metro Bytes: Achelea, Optimum Lightpath, Conterra
August 15th, 2012
Here’s a quick look at several interesting items from the metro space: a brand new build from Achelea, a victory in the firefighter vertical by Optimum Lightpath, and a hybrid fiber/microwave network for a school district by Conterra: [Read more →]
NIST Tests Faster Quantum Data Transmission
August 14th, 2012
While the short term focus is always on the next generation of the technology we already know about, it’s the brand new stuff that is still at the ‘far out’ stage that could really change things someday. Recently NIST and collaborators at Stanford have been showing off a prototype device for splitting photon beams that some say is a big step that could help turn quantum fiberoptics into reality. [Read more →]
Int’l Roundup: Level 3, SomCable, AXTEL, Colt
August 14th, 2012

Several interesting items from outside the US already this week that are worth a look: [Read more →]
XO Deploys 100G Nationwide
August 14th, 2012
In another move that belies the widespread expectation of a quick Icahn sale, XO Holdings (news, filings) this morning said it has taken the 100G plunge with a nationwide deployment. The company says it is the first network operator to deploy the technology nationally, as other early adopters have taken a more piecemeal approach. [Read more →]
CenturyLink Regains Ground in Ethernet
August 13th, 2012

Late last week, Vertical Systems Group put out its Mid-Year 2012 US Business Ethernet Leaderboard, measuring the marketshare by port for providers across the sector. Rather than look at a single graphic, here’s the last three such leaderboards from VSG side by side: [Read more →]
Google Shows Motorola Mobility the Sharpness of Its Axe
August 13th, 2012
Google may aim to do no evil, but it can certainly handle a few pink slips. The company has confirmed that it is cutting 20% of Motorola Mobility’s workforce, and closing as much as a third of its offices worldwide. [Read more →]
M&A Journal: Birch Tucks In Another Deal
August 13th, 2012
Birch Communications (news) made its 16th acquisition in recent years this morning, announcing an agreement to purchase Daystar Communications. The move follows a refinancing just last month that replenished the company’s coffers and paved the way for [Read more →]
Time Warner Cable Taps Level 3 to Expand Backbone
August 13th, 2012
Level 3 Communications (NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) says it has signed a multi-year agreement with Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC, news), expanding its relationship with the giant cable MSO. They will be helping to expand Time Warner Cable’s network as well as to deliver additional core infrastructure services. [Read more →]
Icahn, XO Making a Play for Broadview?
August 13th, 2012

While much of the talk with respect to XO in recent quarters has been about a likely sale, it appears that the company’s owner, billionaire Carl Icahn, may have decided to go in the opposite direction. According to an SEC filing last week, an affiliate of Icahn Associates called High River made a bid for Broadview Networks, which recently announced plans to restructure through a voluntary bankruptcy. [Read more →]
Financial Trends: Updated Data, Integra, and a New Chart
August 13th, 2012
This quarter’s data update for my competitive telecom trends pages is complete with the exception of Zayo, for whom it was the end of a fiscal year and hence we’ll have to wait a few weeks yet. AboveNet’s data moves to the background since its purchase by Zayo, but to replace it I’ve added Integra Telecom which has added both recent financials and also metro fiber maps to its website. And here’s a first look at a new chart of the ratio of Net Debt to Annualized Adjusted EBITDA across the sector: [Read more →]
Friday Bytes: Exponential-e, Earthlink, Cbeyond, US Signal, Spirit
August 10th, 2012
Some quick notes on several items from alternative providers before everyone leaves for the weekend: [Read more →]
CenturyLink Up, Windstream Down Following Earnings
August 10th, 2012
CenturyLink (NYSE:CTL, news, filings) and Windstream (NYSE:WIN, news, filings) each reported earnings this week. The two former primarily rural ILECs have each been evolving toward business services and the cloud, but for Q2 it was CenturyLink the market was happy with while Windstream took a hit. [Read more →]
Magnetic fields trump Wi-Fi for better LBS accuracy
August 9th, 2012
This article was authored by John C. Tanner, and was originally posted on telecomasia.net.
Location-based services have always had problems with indoor accuracy, as GPS only works when you’re outside where the satellites can see you. Finnish company IndoorAtlas says the solution may be all around you. Literally. [Read more →]
NTT Plans ASE Launch, Expands to Munich
August 9th, 2012
NTT Communications (NYSE:NTT, news, filings) added more infrastructure expansions to this weeks news yesterday and today on either side of the planet. [Read more →]