Thursday, December 13, 2012

Integra Telecom Business Bundle Network Solutions for Colorado Companies -VOIP/Cloud/Data/SIP/Internet Specials!



Integra Telecom Unveils SIP Trunking Solution Integra Telecom, a telecommunications provider for businesses, said it now offers SIP Solutions, a portfolio of IP-based services that greatly expands Integra's voice and data offerings. In a release, the company said SIP Solutions combines multiple voice and data options on a single connection and is the latest addition to Integra's product offerings, which utilize Integra's own fiber-based voice and data network.

"Businesses are always seeking to simplify their telecommunications in order to be a more efficient and profitable organization.

By continuing to introduce more telephony products like SIP Solutions, Integra Telecom is ensuring that our customers have access to the most advanced and cost-effective services available," said Dudley Slater, CEO for Integra Telecom. "SIP Solutions is designed to meet the needs of businesses that are looking to support voice and data applications at single or multiple locations. And all of our services are supported by Integra's industry leading local customer service."

Integra's SIP Solutions products and services can be customized to meet an individual business' unique situation. Integra Telecom provides voice, data and Internet communications to thousands of business and carrier customers in 11 Western states, including: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

The company owns and operates a fiber-optic network comprising metropolitan access networks, an internet and data network, and a 4,700-mile high-speed long haul network.

For More Network Solutions information that can help your Company (Voip/Internet/Cloud/Phone Network/SIP/Data),  Contact me Tradd Duggan Integra, LinkedIn profile.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Integra Telecom Announced Expansion of Its Network Busines Voice Services in Denver, Colorado




Integra Telecom Announced Expansion of Its Voice Services Integra Telecom Inc., a provider of networking, communications and cloud solutions, has recently announced that the company had expanded its voice services nationwide. Integra’s SIP Trunking enterprise customers may connect their remote sites in the continental US in order to enact business-wide cost savings and efficiencies through a centralized IP PBX.

The nationwide voice solution from Integra has been deployed on company’s MPLS-empowered IP VPN product, providing a high level of security, scalability and voice quality. Integra officials commented, "Integra is pleased to be able to broaden its suite of nationwide services for enterprise customers. We are always seeking ways to make it easier for our customers to do business with Integra Telecom… Nationwide voice service availability allows our customers to simplify the management of their network by combining voice, data and network services with a single carrier."

Enterprise SIP Trunking and Remote Location Service from Integra allow customers leveraging a centralized IP PBX in order to reduce the costs and maintenance associated with multiple phone systems. Additionally, customers can benefit from UC, across their organization, with a single network provider. The company offers a range of options to support various configurations such as basic voice lines, digital trunks, ISDN PRI and SIP Trunking.

Link



For More Network Solutions information that can help your Company (Voip/Internet/Cloud firewall/Phone Network/SIP/Data),  Contact me Tradd Duggan Integra, LinkedIn profile.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Colorado Telecommunications News Updates- Level3, Time Warner, Zayo, AT&T, Primus & Earthlink!



Group: Telecom Jobs and News Updates Subject: Level 3 Expands Voice Service In U.S. 

Agents who sell Level 3 voice services can now operate in all 50 states. The CLEC has expanded its voice service portfolio to provide customers with local phone numbers in Hawaii and Alaska. SOURCE: Channel Partners ( http://goo.gl/HsJtR )

 About 20,000 AT&T Inc. workers in the East and West started striking even as the telecommunications giant reached tentative deals with unions in the Southeast. SOURCE: Los Angeles Times ( http://goo.gl/nrgyH )

 Earthlink Shares Goals For National Master Program SOURCE: Channel Partners ( http://goo.gl/cMlKV ) Time Warner Cable is expanding its state-of-the-art network by offering Wi-Fi hot spots across uptown Charlotte. The launch of TWC WiFi will provide fast, reliable Internet access to any Wi-Fi-enabled laptop, phone or tablet. SOURCE: Market Watch ( http://goo.gl/O7gBQ )

 tw telecom announced the national availability of a true bandwidth on demand service, enabling customers to change their bandwidth in real time. The service is available immediately through the company's direct and indirect sales channels in the 75 major metro markets tw telecom serves across the country. SOURCE: Channel Partners ( http://goo.gl/T064v )

Primus Telecommunications Group announced the acquisition of Globility Communications, a Canadian CLEC that they already held a big stake in. But perhaps more importantly, they announced new metro fiber buildout plans to go with it. SOURCE: Telecom Ramblings ( http://goo.gl/g2Vku )

Zayo announces the expansion of its Las Vegas, NV network with the addition of 155 new route miles. This fiber build, which is in support of a large customer expansion, will extend Zayo's fiber reach in Nevada both in downtown Las Vegas and nearby areas.

SOURCE: World News Report ( http://goo.gl/qBJg4 ) This message is brought to you by Telarus ( http://goo.gl/9h30Q ), the premier value added distributor for cloud, data center, and carrier services.

I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Telecommunications awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings or more information.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Colorado Telecommunication Reform Bill Dies



A state Senate committee shelved sweeping telecom reform legislation Friday, ending an attempt to overhaul Colorado’s telecom rules and phase out $54 million in subsidies to phone companies. The Senate Appropriations Committee postponed the bill indefinitely, eliminating its chance of passage in the waning days of the current lawmaking session.

It was the second consecutive year telecommunications reform proposals have been defeated. The bipartisan proposal, Senate Bill 157, would have phased out state subsidies for rural landlines by 2025, gradually eliminating a $54 million fund paid for through a 2.9 percent fee on residential phone bills in Colorado

Business Journal Greg Avery

I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Telecommunications awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings or more information.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

3 Sales Tips for Leveraging Social Media and Increase Sales Awareness



3 Sales Tips for Leveraging Social Media 

Social media impacts our lives a little bit more every day. Time spent on mobile web browsing has more than doubled over the past 2 years, and it is projected to increase another 50% over the next 4 years. A large percentage of that time is spent on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, just to name a few. Below are statistics from the most recent study by McKinsey on the implementation of social media tools in business.

 How can sales professionals make the most of social media in their selling efforts?
 1) Develop a Plan Setting up an account on Facebook, LinkedIn, or any other social site is not a plan; it is a first step. The first choice you need to make is which mediums to concentrate on. The easy way to decide is to answer the question, “Where do your target customers spend their time?” Pick two mediums that are most used by your potential customers and allocate adequate time each week to really work on your plan – no less than 2 hours per week is suggested.

2) Get Involved One part of developing your social selling plan is to decide what you will actually do to maximize your time each week. Minimally you should join appropriate groups and get involved in discussions. If all you do is join a group and post your own personal commercial each week, don’t expect to see results. It takes time to build credibility by contributing insightful comments and adding value through what you contribute to the group. This also applies to anything business-related you post on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or any other site. Before you post anything always ask yourself, “Why would anyone care?”

3) Include a Blog Strategy Blogging is one of the most effective means of expanding your influence and reach through social media. Writing a blog that has interest to your targeted prospects and customers can build credibility and generate interest in your professional capability. It is very easy to create a blog through WordPress or any number of blog hosting sites, and it is also very easy to publicize your blog through social outlets. Here is the catch – once you start, you must make sure you maintain a regular discipline. It takes time, consistent use of good content, and patience to establish a reader base, but it is well worth the effort.

I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Telecommunications awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings or more information.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Colorado Telecommunications Association Summer Meeting



2012 CTA Summer Meeting and Vendor Showcase July 24 - 27, 2012 - Loveland, CO
Event Link

Colorado Telecommunications Association invites you to attend their 2012 Summer meeting. This event offers attendees and vendors educational seminars, networking opportunities and exposure to the latest trends, products and business practices to make and keep your business successful.

HOTEL RESERVATION INSTRUCTIONS: 4705 Clydesdale Pkwy Loveland, CO 80538 Telephone: 970-593-6200 To make reservations online: http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/F/FNLESES-CTA-20120724/index.jhtml To make reservations by phone: 1-800-HILTONS (Embassy Suites are now Hilton properties) * Hotel Cutoff for the special room rate is June 24, 2012. * Nightly charges start at $159.00 plus taxes. * Breakfast buffet and manager's reception are included in your hotel stay. *

If you will not be a hotel guest, the Embassy breakfast is available for an additional $16.00 fee per person per day and you must register in advance on the meeting reservation form ATTENDEE (MEMBER / AFFILIATE) REGISTRATION OPTIONS: Early Bird Registration $400 before July 3rd, 2012 Late Registration $450 after July 4 Thursday Showcase only $75 Admit 1 Person to Tradeshow from 2pm - 5pm Spouse / Guest $175

I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Telecommunications awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings or more information.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Colorado Renewable Energy Meet Ups, Organizations, Clubs for Solar, Wind, Sustainability and Green Activities!


Sustainability Calendar of Events 

Colorado is known for many things whether you are a Bronco's fan, a mountain addict headed to the Hills on weekends or someone who is eager to find out more about our Great Green state, this is the place.

There are a number of organizations and groups to get involved in whether you are just looking around or involved heavily within the Renewable Energy Sector.  Take a look and see what you think, hope to see you at the next Energy meeting!
 

Click Here for July's Green Events at Alliance For Sustainable Colorado
Colorado's Top Organizations and Meet Up Groups Click Here
Groups Include:
The Renewable Energy Initiative
CRES
Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure Council
NCRES
Boulder Sustainable Energy Network
Sustainable Empowerment  in the Front Range




I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Renewable Energy awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings or more information.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Service Provider Fiber Available in 31.8% of U.S. Buildings



VSG: Service provider fiber available in 31.8% of U.S. buildings 
March 16, 2012
By Sean Buckley Article Link

 While fiber availability into buildings is far from ubiquitous, new research from Vertical Systems Group shows that fiber is now available in 31.8 percent of U.S. commercial buildings, up from 27.7 percent in 2010. Vertical Systems Group business fiber These fiber-connected buildings with 20 or more employees can access services that can scale up to multiple Gbps rates.

"Direct fiber is the preferred access technology deployed for business services like Ethernet and IP VPNs, and for connectivity to the Internet and cloud-based applications," said Rosemary Cochran, principal at Vertical Systems Group. "With the majority of larger U.S. buildings already fiber-connected to one or more networks, service providers widened their fiber footprints in 2011 to cover more small and medium locations through new construction, strategic partnerships or acquisitions."


I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Renewable Energy awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales opportunities or more information.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Denver Chamber Launching Technology Conference, Telecommunications Soon To Follow



A new technology conference is coming to town, co-sponsored by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. The Denver Business Technology Exposition will take place at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum on October 12.

Among other things, the Tech Expo will aim to bring together Denver’s tech-focused organizations to discuss, engage and exchange ideas about Denver tech businesses. The one-day event will provide training and education opportunities and feature dozens of national and international technology vendors.


 I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Telecom-Renewable Energy awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales relationships or more information.

Friday, May 25, 2012

China to Spend $27 Billion on Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency This Year



Just confirming the easy bet Goldman Sachs is putting on cleantech (which I just wrote about), China is reportedly going to spend $27 billion this year alone on cleantech (energy efficiency and conservation, clean energy, and emissions reductions). “The country’s finance ministry said it wants to promote energy-saving products, solar and wind power and accelerate the development of renewable energy and hybrid cars,” the Guardian reports.

Of course, this comes on the heels of a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) showing that China’s rapid growth was a key factor in bringing annual CO2 emissions up to a record and very concerning level in 2011, despite carbon emissions reductions in the US and EU. Nonetheless, as noted there, China’s carbon intensity has actually dropped 15% (from 2005 to 2011) due to its tremendous cleantech investments. “In the long term, China is targeting to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45% by 2020, compared with 2003 levels and aims to boost its use of renewable energy to 15% of overall energy consumption,” the Guardian piece adds.

CleanTechnica Article Link

Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings or more information

Thursday, May 10, 2012

A Practical Introduction to IPV6

 I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Telecom-Renewable Energy awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings or more information.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Akamai Drives a Fiat, Level 3 Chases a Triathlon

Akamai Drives a Fiat, Level 3 Chases a Triathlon
April 17th, 2012 by Robert Powell
Link

Two interesting items this morning from NAB coming out of two very different CDN operators whose paths have been diverging further lately. Obviously both companies still target many of the same opportunities, but lately they have chosen to emphasize different aspects of their offerings.

Level 3 Communications (NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) followed up yesterday’s CDN expansion announcement with one of its bread-and-butter niche sporting event wins. The International Triathlon Union has selected them to provide both live broadcast and streaming services for the ITU World Triatlon Series. The first event will be in Sydney, with later ones to follow in San Diego, Madrid, Kitzbuhel, Hamburg, Stockholm, Yokohama, and Auckland. It’s the kind of deal that simultaneously leverages both their Vyvx division’s strengths and their global CDN footprint. And after detailing the latter’s recent expansions and future plans yesterday, Level 3 did the same thing today for the Vyvx side of things. They plan to expand HD transmission and JPEG2000 compression services beyond sports venues to other customers such as TV stations and production companies.

Meanwhile, Akamai (NASDAQ:AKAM, news, filings) chose to emphasize a new corporate contract with Italian car maker Fiat. Fiat has implemented Akamai’s site and application acceleration and mobile optimization services for both its corporate and brand sites across multiple devices. They’re seeking to reduce abandonment rates by making pages load faster, succeeding with Alfa Romeo to the tune of 66% and their CRM application by up to 300%. Akamai has been directing most of its efforts toward a move up the food chain where its core CDN underlies a wider range of cloud and managed services. Akamai’s announcements for the past several quarters have been focused on either this type of deal (e.g. Dolce&Gabbana) or on new, tightly focused products & services.



I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Telecom-Renewable Energy awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings or more information.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Telecommunications Sales Openings in Denver..Reaching Out To Recruiters, Sales Organizations or Chasing The Big Boys!

Attempt to overhaul Colorado telecom subsidy fails Link
DENVER (AP) — Lawmakers on Friday stopped a plan to phase out a $54 million annual payout to Colorado telecom companies, saying there wasn't enough time to settle differences over a complex bill. Republican Sen. Mark Scheffel killed his own bill, telling a panel of lawmakers he was disappointed it sat on the legislative calendar for six weeks. "It's an unfortunate commentary on the process," he said. Scheffel said it was "ludicrous" to expect lawmakers to debate the bill now with four days before they adjourn and settle big differences over how much of the subsidy should be shifted to developing broadband in rural areas.

 The proposal sought to eliminate subsidies in places where 90 percent of customers have at least five telecommunications providers. Providers working in less competitive areas would still be eligible for the fund. The subsidy would be gradually eliminated by 2025 as ratepayers pay less into it. Consumers pay 2.9 percent of their phone bills toward the fund, or less than a dollar for a $30 bill.

The fund was at an estimated $54.3 million last year. CenturyLink Inc., which cover most of Colorado's rural areas, consistently received more than 90 percent of the subsidy and was one of the loudest critics of the bill.

 Jobsites to look into for the Denver area: 



 





Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings that could be a fit or more information

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Mindspeed Enables High-Density 100 Gigabit Ethernet Systems with Lowest-Power 28G Clock and Data Recovery Technology


100 Gig Ethernet is Here
Article Link

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Mindspeed Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MSPD), a leading supplier of semiconductor solutions for network infrastructure applications, today announced the industry’s lowest-power clock and data recovery (CDR) capable of supporting data rates from 25 to 28 gigabits per second (Gbps). The low power dissipation is a critical requirement for enabling the 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) system port densities that the industry must achieve in order to handle increasing internet traffic and escalating online video content demand.

“Increasing internet traffic and the demand for online video content is driving the need to upgrade network connections from 10Gbps to 100Gbps”

Mindspeed will be demonstrating its new CDR technology at the The Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition and the National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC 2012), from March 6-8, 2012, in booth #1761/173 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The company will also be showcasing its broad range of physical media devices (PMDs) for equipment used to deliver fiber-to-the-x (FTTx) multi-play services via fiber-access networks.

“Increasing internet traffic and the demand for online video content is driving the need to upgrade network connections from 10Gbps to 100Gbps,” said Hasnain Bajwa, senior vice president and general manager, high-performance analog (HPA) at Mindspeed. “To enable this upgrade, CDR integrated circuits (ICs) are required that can reset the link’s jitter budget at data rates from 25Gbps to 28Gbps. These CDRs also must dissipate extremely low power in order to achieve high 100Gbps system port densities. Mindspeed®’s 28Gbps CDR dissipates the lowest power in the industry, and will be a key building block for next-generation networking systems.”

 I started this site to help others with tips in Sales, Telecom-Renewable Energy awareness. Contact me Tradd Duggan , LinkedIn profile. To Network, possible Sales openings or more information.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Revenue For U.S. Ethernet Services Exceeded $6 Billion In 2011 Despite Price Compression.

Ethernet Services Top $6 Billion in 2011
Written by Erin Dunne

BOSTON , MA, JANUARY 24, 2012 -- Vertical Systems Group's research on end-site Ethernet service installations confirms that the U.S. market topped $6 billion in 2011. Revenue growth was solid despite ongoing compression of average street prices. Total market revenue includes all Carrier Ethernet services and associated rate elements.

"2011 was an upbeat year for the U.S. Ethernet services market, even though competitive pricing pressures were clearly evident, particularly for mid-speed services," said Rick Malone, principal at Vertical Systems Group. "Economic uncertainty was also a challenge for Ethernet Service Providers competing in the U.S. market, but much less so than in markets throughout Europe."


Click here for the Top Players of 2011

The latest analysis also indicates steady base expansion for each of the three major U.S. Ethernet provider segments: Incumbent Carrier, Competitive Provider and Cable MSO. Final 2011 U.S. and Global LEADERBOARD market share rankings will be released publicly in early February. Detailed share results are available to subscribers of Vertical Systems Group's syndicated ENS research service.

About Vertical's ENS Research Programs
Vertical Systems Group's ENS Research Programs feature web-based access to hundreds of research topics plus analyst support for your ad hoc requests or consultations. As a comprehensive "real world" resource for business or product planning, ENS covers customer migration across all broadband network services to provide you with more defensible analysis as compared to discrete market forecasts. Research Tracks include @Ethernet, @Access, @Dedicated IP VPNs, @Fiber,@Frame Relay, @Private Lines, @ATM, @STATFlash and more. Contact us for subscription information and pricing

Monday, February 6, 2012

NANOG North American Network Operators’ Group Welcomes You To San Diego


NANOG look's forward to welcoming you to San Diego, the host for the 54th annual meeting of the North American Network Operators’ Group (NANOG). This year marks the third time Telx has served as a host for this event, and we are excited to have that role and participate once again. They look forward to this year's conference in the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego - considered the "hub" of the region, with more than 40 nightclubs, restaurants, live entertainment venues and upscale bars.

History has shown us NANOG is always an outstanding opportunity to meet new contacts and to catch up with colleagues in the field of network operations. Each year, our Telx team looks forward to gathering with other network operations professionals to share information, learn advanced networking techniques, and discover new network applications. With all of the new technologies transforming the network operations industry recently, this year's NANOG will certainly offer more education than ever.

NANOG 54 is quickly approaching! NANOGers will be gathering in the Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego’s vibrant Gaslamp Quarter for the NANOG spring meeting. After the NANOG daily events, attendees will find one of Southern California's premier dining, shopping, and entertainment districts.

NANOG 54 takes place on February 5-8, 2012 and offers a great opportunity to freshen up your skills, learn advanced networking techniques, and discover new network applications. The NANOG Program will again feature tutorials and tracks sessions, and highlight issues relating to technology already deployed, or soon-to-be deployed, in the Internet.
Sponsors are lining up to be part of NANOG. Vendors are encouraged to work with operators to present real-world deployment experiences with vendor products and further explore interoperability issues.

Friday, January 27, 2012

NTIA Enhances National Broadband Map for Mobile Devices


Enhanced Broadband Map
Article by Andrew Burger

Accessible via mobile devices, the National Broadband Map (NBM) has been enhanced to make it easier for users to search for broadband availability, summarize and rank data and view a map of community anchor institutions, the NTIA/FCC announced on the NBM website Friday.

Updated every six months, the NBM is part of the NTIA’s State Broadband Initiative. The nationwide broadband information resource was created by the FCC and NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) in collaboration with state and local public and private sector partners to “encourage economic growth by facilitating the integration of broadband and information technology into state and local economies.”

Optimized for search and presentation on mobile browsers and touch-screen and smartphone screens, users can now search for local broadband data with their smartphones’ GPS capabilities. Results are presented in a new format designed to enhance ease of use and comprehension.

The first map to be deployed for NBM’s mobile service is the Community Anchor Institutions’ map. Users tap “Search” to enter an address. A map of the 25 closest broadband service providers is presented. A zoom capability enables you to zero in on a requested location, with each point providing information about the facility and any known broadband service details.

Making use of the “touch-optimized” jQuery Mobile framework, the NTIA and FCC are also making it easier for independent third-party mobile app developers to develop mobile apps based on the NBM.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Verizon posts strong FiOS TV results in Q4

Verizon posts strong FiOS TV results in Q4

Verizon Communications expanded its FiOS TV base by 194,000 net new customers in the fourth quarter, a gain of 12,000 more than the 182,000 reported a year earlier and sizable pickup from the third quarter, which attracted 131,000 net new customers. Verizon added 201,000 FiOS broadband customers to bring its total to 4.8 million. On the wireless side, Verizon sold 4.2 million iPhones and added 1.5 million subscribers on a 13% increase in revenue and slightly lower churn. Overall, Verizon's revenue increased 7.7% as a one-time pension charge affected its bottom.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Spotlight on Idaho's Broadband, Wireless and Connectivity to Rural Areas!


Idaho recently got a lot of attention after the New York Times published an article about how it has the slowest broadband speeds in the country. I am sympathetic to the frustration of people who live in places where they do not have access to better broadband and are stuck with slow, overpriced satellite or overpriced, unreliable DSL service. I am also sympathetic to the gentleman from Potlatch highlighted in the article who said that his Internet service was taken out by bears that were rubbing against the towers up in the mountains! If it is dependent on towers, he is most likely using fixed wireless from a WISP. In fact, most places in Northern Idaho can ONLY get broadband from a WISP! Here is a map that is part of a WISPA project that highlights the census blocks in Idaho that can only get broadband from fixed terrestrial wireless providers:

51,646 households in Idaho can only get access from a WISP, that is 9.19% of the total households in the state.

This total area is 16,888 square miles and represents 20.41% of the total land area of the state.

Idaho has 6.79 households per square mile in the entire state, but only 3.06 households per square mile in the areas served by WISPs.

This data highlights the advantages of WISPs, and the massive failures of our current telecom policy and USF mechanism.

WISPs are able to survive and deliver broadband even in places that have very low population density. All of those purple sections in the map above would have NO broadband if not for WISPs. Which points out a massive failure of our current telecom policy and USF system. According to the USAC High Cost Disbursement Data Tool, Eligible Telecommunications Carriers in Idaho received $51,785,484 in subsidies. The Potlatch Telephone company that serves the Potlatch area received $208,053 in USF subsidies last year, equivalent to $21.92/month for each resident of Potlatch. Apparently, nearly $52 million dollars is not enough for the phone companies of Idaho to upgrade their infrastructure to deliver better broadband. Yet another example of why this system is doomed to waste money.

Compare this to a WISP that serves the area – First Step Internet – that offers a choice of broadband speeds starting at $35/month for 800k/128k and up to 4mb/1mb for $80/month. First Step has been in the ISP business since 1994 and is one of the few surviving independent ISPs that have been able to thrive and prosper in the wake of anti-competitive efforts from the telcos and rampant and unnecessary subsidization of obsolete infrastructure through USF.

Finally, I’d like to highlight another WISP success story in Idaho that I touched on earlier this month. Microserv Technologies, another Idaho WISP, recently passed the 10,000 subscriber mark. That growth has taken place organically, with no government subsidies, by providing a high level of service to their customers and urban quality broadband speeds at affordable prices.

The answer for Idaho is pretty clear: pull the plug on unnecessary subsidies and foster the development of WISP operators by clearing up more spectrum for independent fixed wireless broadband operators.

Article Link


Link

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Top Ten Communications, Tech, and Media Industry Trends For 2012


2012 Trends in Fiber
Article Link by Arvind Arora

Carriers will be putting a huge emphasis on fiber-based services to deal with mobile networks that are being pushed to their limits, according to M/C Partners, which has released its annual list of the top 10 communications, technology and media industry trends to watch in 2012.

A dramatic increase in cloud services and video consumption are creating serious challenges for carriers, who will be scrambling to address the issue. Many will use fiber to upgrade cell tower backhaul networks to raise network capacity, according to the private equity firm’s list.

M/C Partners compiled the list as part of its ongoing research to understand industry trends and identify investment opportunities in the communications, media, and information technology sectors.

According to M/C Partners, the leading trend in the new year will be carriers’ use of fiber to upgrade cell tower backhaul networks to gigabit connections, a staggering increase from the 1-2 megabits carriers provisioned to cell towers only a few years ago.

“As mobile users expect their phones to operate more like PCs and increase their consumption of social and traditional media, mobile networks are being pushed to their absolute limits,” said James Wade, Managing General Partner, M/C Partners.

“Adoption of cloud services and mobile consumption of video are only in their early stages, but growing very quickly. Networks are struggling to handle it right now. What will happen when demand grows ten-fold, as it likely will? Ubiquitous fiber will be the solution.”

Trends on the M/C Partners’ list include:

1. Fiber to the tower will become the number one priority for network operators struggling to deal with mobile users’ insatiable thirst for broadband.

2. Enterprise adoption of cloud-based services will drive demand for network-based managed services that will provide critical monitoring and management of application and service performance across LANs, MANs, WANs and the public Internet.

3. New technological innovations on the handset and in the network will improve important services like caching, compression and signaling to enhance mobile user experience, battery life and network access.

4. Consumerization of the enterprise will expand as end users move from simply driving iPhone and iPad adoption in the enterprise to pushing IT departments to provide more user-friendly and consumer-style applications for information sharing and management.

5. Micro-transaction business models will expand from social games into MMOGs, console games and other areas such as video, social networks and communications services providing consumer-directed price discrimination across a range of services.

6. HTML 5’s simplification of mobile application development will improve app economics, competition and usage by providing a seamless cross-platform experience and backward compatibility to the PC environment without sacrificing performance.

7. Consumers will realize the value of managed technology services from OEMs, broadband service providers and independent tech support companies to maximize the utility of their networked devices, as the need for better performance and up-time becomes increasingly valuable to consumers.

8. The content rental model will push beyond music and video into print publications with tablets providing an improved consumption medium that content owners will seek to fill with magazines and books.

9. Marketing options for small local businesses will expand beyond daily deals into more powerful tools that provide better yield management and integration with traditional local media and direct marketing for improved customer acquisition and lifetime value of customers.

10. Cable operators will answer over-the-top threats with apps and more subscription package variety to gain the upper hand in alternative video viewing options for consumers while still preserving the critical distribution and billing relationship.

M/C Partners is a private equity firm focused exclusively on the communications, media, and information technology sectors. The firm has invested over $1.5 billion into nearly 100 companies in those sectors. Companies M/C has backed include Cavalier Telephone, Corelink, Fusepoint, GTS Central Europe, ICG Communications, Legendary Pictures, Lightower, MetroPCS, NuVox, Open Mobile, Public Mobile, Seven Networks and Zayo Group.



Southeast Venture Conference, February 29 – March 1, 2012 at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, VA – Where Smart Money Meets Smart People.
www.seventure.org