Telecom Ramblings

For a while it looked like Verizon might crack the regulatory barrier and substitute its VoiceLink wireless replacement for copper services in remote areas. However, the public outcry was big enough to drive them into retreat, as yesterday they abruptly reversed course and said they’d bring in fiber to the island as well. [Read more →]

Here’s a quick roundup of international news from the start of this week, but taking a break from Vodafone and all that: [Read more →]

Telecom Ramblings may not be the next Rolling Stone, but nevertheless we’ve got an actual rock star interview for you today. Chad Taylor, best known as guitarist and co-founder of the multi-platinum rock band +LIVE+, is also Chairman of Think Loud Holdings, one of the main backers of United Fiber & Data. UFD made its debut earlier this year by kicking off a brand new fiber build between New York City and Ashburn by way of York, Pennsylvania. Chad joins us here today to talk fiber and telecom. [Read more →]

Last week’s heavily foreshadowed $130B deal between Verizon and Vodafone finished off the summer M&A season with a bang.  In the end, Verizon met what had been widely seen as Vodafone’s price to finally gain full control over Verizon Wireless.  Did they get a steal or did they pay too much?  Now that the dust has settled, here’s a quick poll: [Read more →]

Remember when the FCC laid down the law on net neutrality, and many said that as weak as it was it still likely wouldn’t survive a court challenge? Well that challenge took its usual scenic route through the legal system but has now arrived at long last.  [Read more →]

Over on the Ramblings Jobs Board we have two new job listings this week from the competitive metro fiber space: [Read more →]

It’s been a shortened week, but despite having all the oxygen sucked out by the Verizon/Vodafone and MicroSoft/Nokia deals, plenty of other interesting things managed to happen: [Read more →]

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

In the wake of Microsoft’s $7.2 billion buyout of Nokia’s handset business, it’s not surprising some people are comparing it to Google’s buyout of Motorola’s handset division a couple of years ago. [Read more →]

Here’s a quick roundup of news from the data center world this week, with Infinity tapping euNetworks’ fiber, and a customer each for Sabey, CoreSite, and CyrusOne. [Read more →]

The western regional network operator Integra is expanding its metro presence on its eastern frontier, i.e. in the upper Midwestern city of Minneapolis. Integra is building out 1,600 fiber miles focused on the the central business district, with completion targeted in the fourth quarter of this year. [Read more →]

One of the big cable MSOs has bought its way into a deeper metro fiber footprint. Cox Communications today signed an agreement to buy Tulsa’s EasyTEL. [Read more →]

After a couple years of digesting the former Nortel MEN business, cien has been coming on very strong lately.  The company’s very strong fiscal third quarter was its third such performance in a row, easily beating expectations.  Here’s a quick table with some context: [Read more →]

Here’s a quick look at some news items from the start of this week, and one from last week that I hadn’t gotten to.  [Read more →]

The USA may have been off for the past few days, but there’s been plenty of news elsewhere that is of interest. Here’s a quick review: [Read more →]

If you were unplugged for the Labor Day weekend in the USA, then this will be news. Otherwise, it’s just the wrap-up with the actual numbers.  The deal has been made: Verizon is paying Vodafone $130B to take full control over Verizon Wireless. [Read more →]

This article was authored by Joseph Waring, and was originally posted on telecomasia.net.

Five-year forecasts are standard fare for research firms and analysts, which send me a steady stream of ambitious predictions that I mostly ignore. An accurate estimate 12 months ahead is challenging enough, particularly for new industry segments. And it’s no secret that three-year outlooks are at best [Read more →]

In what may eventually prove to have been the least secret M&A dance of the decade, Verizon and Vodafone are supposedly ready to make a deal, at long last. According to the Wall Street Journal, Verizon will be meeting Vodafone’s price of $130B for the 45% of Verizon Wireless the latter holds. [Read more →]

Over on the Ramblings Jobs Board we have a new job listing this week from Unite Private Networks. [Read more →]

America Movil’s bid for KPN hit a bit of a roadblock yesterday, as the independent foundation tasked with protecting KPN’s stakeholders exercised its option to take more than 49% of voting control. The move apparently surprised analysts, not that it happened but that it happened so soon. But I don’t think it surprised Carlos Slim & co. [Read more →]

Well, I can’t say it was unexpected. The news out of lvlt this week is a round of layoffs. According to the Denver Post the number is 700, or 6.5% of the company’s global workforce, with 150 in Colorado and the rest spread out around the rest of the world. [Read more →]

Hibernia Networks took another step away from its roots under the waves with an acquisition announcement today. They’re buying Atrato IP Networks, the Dutch-based transit and Ethernet backbone. [Read more →]

Yes, the deal rumor of the year that teases us every month or two is back this morning. Verizon and Vodafone could again be doing a deal for the 45% of Verizon Wireless that Vodafone owns and Verizon wants. This time, however, there are at least a few actual signs that a deal could actually be within range. [Read more →]

Software defined networking is all the rage this year, and service providers are starting to take notice of its potential beyond the data center and into wide area networks. Service provider networks are much different than what you find in a data center, and automation of provisioning and service delivery causes an expanded set of problems. With us today to delve further into the subject and to let us know where Ciena stands on the subject is Mitch Auster, Ciena’s Senior Director of Market Development. [Read more →]