Telecom Ramblings

A few months ago, we looked into the opportunity for veterans in the data center and internet infrastructure industry with Salute Mission Critical.  Today, we return to that topic to talk with Aligned’s Billie Haggard. Aligned builds and operates data center infrastructure for hyperscale and enterprise companies around the country, leveraging innovative, sustainable and adaptable approaches to facility design and operations. Billie started out in the Navy before transitioning to the data center world, and as SVP of Operations and Safety Officer at Aligned, he actively seeks to attract more veterans and ex-military talent into the industry due to their unique mindset and training. [Read more →]

A couple of government contracts, a new CDN PoP, and a multinational upgrade to finish off the week: [Read more →]

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Todd Twete, Director of Carrier Services at Blackfoot Communications

RDOF, 5G, Infrastructure planning are exciting new avenues to support fast broadband services to business and residential communities around the nation. [Read more →]

Cologix has made an inorganic move that will take it into northern California for the first time. The data center and interconnection operator has announced a definitive agreement to acquire vXchnge’s data center campus in Silicon Valley. [Read more →]

euNetworks has rolled a new weapon onto the battlefield in the low latency arms race over in London. The pan-European bandwidth infrastructure specialist has deployed CoreSmart hollowcore fiber from Lumenisity Limited on its first route in the London metro area. [Read more →]

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Michael Morey, Chief Executive Officer, Bluebird Network

The pandemic revealed a lot with network and data center companies.  Either strength and innovation to pivot and solve a problem immediately or it amplified weaknesses revealing bigger problems like the digital divide of underserved regional areas, but also how global companies can address their US customer base – both of which are [Read more →]

Four interesting contract announcements, two from the start of this week, and two that I missed from late last week that are worth noting: [Read more →]

The US political instability we have all been watching almost made it to the data center industry recently. According to reports, a 28-year old man from Texas was arrested on Thursday while trying to purchase explosives he planned to use to blow up an Amazon AWS data center in Ashburn, Virginia. [Read more →]

Several items from around the world to catch up with before enjoying a spring weekend: [Read more →]

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Amr Ibrahim, Founder & CEO at ULTATEL

While the COVID-19 pandemic initially created disruptions and challenges for organizations across the globe, it also accelerated the digital transformation of a productive and efficient remote workforce. The new normal has forced companies to review their IT strategies and navigate uncharted waters, in order to adapt to today’s remote workforce reality. [Read more →]

A few interesting items from around the US worth catching up on: [Read more →]

Zayo’s expansion in Florida is entering a new phase. A couple years ago the fiber builder and operator moved to deepen its infrastructure in the state with a substantial organic buildout of beyond the 2,300 route miles of fiber it has already put in place across multiple markets. [Read more →]

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Darach Beirne, Vice President of Customer Success at Flowroute, now part of Intrado

In today’s world, there are myriad challenges and hurdles that business leaders must overcome, especially as the economy recovers from the disruption during 2020. Over the previous 12 months, businesses have leaned heavily on [Read more →]

Lumen and T-Mobile are expanding their existing relationship to empower each’s next generation of technology. The arrangement will combine T-Mobile’s 5G mobile network with Lumen’s Edge Computing platform. [Read more →]

Plans for a new submarine cable between Europe and Iceland took another step forward this week. The North Atlantic service provider Farice and the fiber optic cable manufacturer SubCom announced yesterday that the contract for the IRIS cable system is now in force. [Read more →]

One of the last year’s biggest deals in the data center sector was DataBank’s purchase of zColo from Zayo.  The purchase tripled the company’s data center footprint and doubled its market coverage, instantly giving it not just a nationwide US footprint but a starter set in Europe as well.  As part of Digital Colony’s portfolio, the company looks well positioned to invest further going forward as well.  With us today to talk about the zColo deal and integration, other expansion efforts, and the effects of the pandemic on the sector is CEO Raul Martynek.  This is a return visit by Raul, who stopped by for an Industry Spotlight two years ago. [Read more →]

The independent transatlantic cable operator Aqua Comms has officially changed hands. Yesterday, Digital 9 Infrastructure PLC closed the deal they had been working on to acquire the company and overnight became a big player in the subsea marketplace.

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Muthukumaravel S., Senior Director at Prodapt Solutions

Digital Service Providers (DSPs) today are challenged with broadband service qualification as it is cumbersome and time-consuming. The ineffective service qualification process causes 30-40% of the new customers to experience unserviceability, and 20-30% of the existing subscribers face [Read more →]

Two new edge data centers, some new connectivity, and a film vertical contract: [Read more →]

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Bruce McClelland, CEO, Ribbon Communications

Communications networks traditionally experience traffic level spikes at peak times throughout the year, such as the holidays or Mother’s Day. But the global pandemic upended everything, and operators are now forced [Read more →]

The Pacific Ocean might soon have two more submarine cables underneath the waves. On its infrastructure blog yesterday, Facebook announced plans for two systems connecting the US directly with Singapore, with two sets of partners. The cables will add both diversity and capacity to the overall subsea infrastructure between North America and southeast Asia.

A few network items to catch up on from late last week: [Read more →]

Few companies have had a more eventful couple of years internally as Windstream has, even in this unique pandemic environment.  But with restructuring now in the past, the company looks ready to roll on multiple fronts.  With us today to talk about Windstream Enterprise’s approach to this new chapter in its story is CMO Mike Flannery.  Mike’s journey to his current role started out with a ride through Global Crossing’s trip through the telecom nuclear winter, followed by a stint at Level 3 and then another at EarthLink prior to its acquisition by Windstream four years ago. [Read more →]