Report Information | Contents | Guide to Company Ratings |

Akamai
Akamai continues to grow its server count (48,865) as the company looks to add to abilities including cloud services and security. (7/14/2009)

AT&T
AT&T's network-layer business growth is led by wireless and choice wireline sectors including IP-VPNs and Ethernet. Beyond its comprehensive network coverage, AT&T's spread of managed and hosted services are keys to future opportunities. (11/13/2009)

Broadview
Broadview offers its portfolio of SMB services in the densely populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern U.S. The region offers Broadview a large prospective customer base, but the carrier faces competition from much larger providers. (1/29/2010)

BT Americas
BT Global Services embarked on a restructuring that will integrate operations and consolidate networks and systems to lower costs. But its rapid international revenue growth, including the Americas, should keep these operations largely unchanged. (8/26/2009)

BT Americas
BT Americas is on track, delivering growth helped by a tailwind of acquisitions and favorable currency fluctuation. The business benefits from new developments such as a global iVPN MPLS upgrade and unified communications professional services. (4/2/2009)

Cavalier Telephone
Cavalier offers a solid set of services for small and mid-size businesses, but its business services are basic and lack hosted, managed, and mobility solutions, putting the carrier at risk of being overtaken by more progressive competitors. (4/22/2009)

CenturyLink
CenturyLink moved quickly to commence integration of Embarq, and it is already realizing cost savings from the merger. As the carrier rationalizes the wireline services of the combined company, it needs to consider adding a wireless strategy. (1/12/2010)

Charter Business
Charter Business is growing revenues briskly, thanks to the uptake of its multi-line voice and Internet bundles among smaller businesses. Its future depends, however, on the financial challenges faced by its corporate parent. (1/5/2009)

Comcast
Comcast Business Communications has found success in the small business services market, posting 110% revenue growth from 2007 to 2009. The operator is planning a move to serve mid-size businesses, but it must build up credibility in this segment. (3/15/2010)

Covad
Covad followed up increased access speed options with Ethernet access to the Internet. Most of the provider's key services are available nationwide, and Covad needs to take more of its enterprise-worthy services beyond its 12-market footprint. (1/8/2010)

Cox Business
Cox Business continues its streak of enterprise customer wins across its targeted verticals. The business also continues to go against the flow of the economic downturn, investing in upgrades and projecting $1 billion segment revenues for 2010. (2/10/2010)

Deltacom
From its shakeup in 2007, Deltacom has emerged a stable CLEC and fiber-based regional provider with a deep reach into the southeastern U.S. Unlike many peers, Deltacom has embraced wireless services as part of its business model. (2/26/2010)

Frontier Communications
Frontier Communications has a long history of delivering services to consumers and small businesses profitably in its mostly rural service area. Competition is increasing and the carrier can look to larger businesses to offset consumer declines. (9/30/2009)

Global Crossing
Global Crossing seems to have weathered the economic storms of 2009. Revenue from growth services outpaced declines in legacy products, and the carrier has executed on key initiatives, leaving it well-positioned for a strong 2010. (1/6/2010)

Granite Telecommunications
Granite Telecommunications held the line in 2009, and even grew its voice line count. In the context of industry-wide voice access line declines and tough economic times, Granite's ability to hold its own is a major success. (12/17/2009)

Hughes Network Systems
As the leading U.S. satellite broadband provider, Hughes covers markets from small offices to mid-sized businesses and SMEs to very large enterprises. In market segments, the satellite provider's edge is clear and simple. (3/10/2009)

Integra Telecom
Following its Eschelon Telecom and Electric Lightwave acquisitions, Integra Telecom held revenues flat as its customer base struggled with the downturn. The carrier's successful 2009 restructuring helped its cause by greatly reducing its debt. (9/17/2009)

Level 3
Like many service providers, Level 3 saw revenues fall off in 2009 due to the economic downturn. But the carrier’s focus to serve content providers and offer enhanced local services for enterprises should help it in 2010. (2/17/2010)

Limelight Networks
Limelight continues to grow, adding hundreds of clients in the past year, picking up key brand wins globally, and taking its server count past the 10,000 mark. (5/29/2009)

MegaPath
MegaPath has specialized in access aggregation, and in integrated voice/data access via its comprehensive Duet service packages. The service provider's long track record with channel sales have aided it in its market success. (9/9/2009)

New Edge Networks
New Edge Networks upgraded its infrastructure prior to EarthLink's austerity measures, which prepared the ISP for the broad economic downturn. New Edge continues to be a strong specialist that builds private networks for market verticals. (10/6/2009)

NTT America
NTT America benefits from NTT Communications' cutting-edge global network. With affiliate Verio in the U.S., it is an IPv6 pioneer. The carrier has a high-quality reputation, but its business lacks penetration in developing regions outside Asia. (3/12/2009)

NuVox
NuVox is keeping pace with the changing needs of its business base, moving up mid-market to target enterprises with products that include a regional IP/MPLS network, SIP trunking support and the Google Apps suite of business applications. (6/22/2009)

One Communications
One Communications gained momentum in 2009 with new services, new clients, and a new channel program. Follow-through on Ethernet service development plans, strong customer focus, and partner initiatives will be key to its success in 2010. (2/1/2010)

Optimum Lightpath
Nearly five years ago, Optimum Lightpath decided to focus on an Ethernet service strategy for its tri-state network. The decision paid off handily for the company, as the market has moved toward simple connectivity at high speeds and low prices. (12/28/2009)

Orange Business Services
Orange Business Services' global IP infrastructure upgrade continues to expand the number of destinations where capabilities such as telepresence, unified communications, IPv6, and multicast are fully supported. (8/27/2009)

PAETEC
PAETEC is holding firm, expanding coverage and developing new products conservatively during the economic downturn. The CLEC is using its size and national presence to continue its push up-market, and has landed some big state contracts in 2009. (12/18/2009)

Qwest Communications
Qwest has pulled the trigger on its national optical infrastructure plans, which in 2010 will introduce 100 Gbps wavelengths in the carrier's core, and it is pragmatically adding its own global IP/MPLS POPs, where the expansions make sense. (2/10/2010)

RCN Metro Optical Networks
RCN Metro Optical Networks increased revenues and profitability, and upgrades are reducing costs while enhancing its optical enterprise services. There is plenty of opportunity for the business, but it will also need to preserve cash. (3/12/2009)

SAVVIS
SAVVIS is not a network provider so much as a provider of packaged of IT solutions. It aims for customer hot buttons including business continuity, outsourcing for cost management, managed security, virtualized services and software-as-a-service. (1/2/2009)

Sprint Nextel
Sprint faces heavy competition in the enterprise market from larger U.S. rivals, but the carrier’s moves to raise the visibility of business services with a dedicated business services group and enhanced offers strengthen its competitive stance. (10/1/2009)

TelePacific Communications
TelePacific has built up a high customer penetration of SMBs in its western U.S. markets. However, its successful geographic focus may become an issue for the CLEC as West Coast markets suffer from the economic downturn. (3/10/2009)

Telefónica
Telefónica Empresas América's presence in Latin America strengthens its position as a service provider connecting the region with the U.S. and Europe. Telefónica's refinancing of its steep debt further strengthens the carrier's overall position. (7/22/2009)

Time Warner Cable Business Class
Time Warner Cable Business Class continues to expand its suite of business services. SMBs can benefit from the operator’s Ethernet portfolio, but large distributed enterprises may find the operator’s service footprint to be inconsistent. (11/25/2009)

tw telecom
tw telecom built its success on a foundation of fiber, Ethernet, and strong customer service. Competitors have caught up in terms of technology, but the carrier continues to reap early adopter benefits in terms of revenue growth. (2/17/2010)

Verizon Business
Verizon’s enterprise revenues took a hit in the rocky global economy in 2009, pushing the company to cut its headcount by another 13,000. Though the financial outlook is still shaky, Verizon Business has the resources to weather the storm. (3/12/2010)

Windstream Communications
Windstream acquired three companies in less than a year. While the new companies mostly add consumer and small business clients and services, the moves will also expand Windstream’s customer base and add expertise in advanced business services. (3/17/2010)

XO
Despite a challenging economic environment, XO has sustained its momentum in 2009, increasing revenue from its core services segment and adding new products. XO has begun yet another network expansion, which will support growth in 2010 and beyond. (12/3/2009)

Company Description
Up-to-date look at what markets the company competes in and what it brings to those markets. Coverage includes: main product lines, important partnerships, key clients, recent sales wins.

Current Perspective
Our analysts give their assessment on whether or not the company has the technology, products & services and management team needed to compete in its markets.

Company Market/Sales Strategy
What are the company’s value proposition and key differentiators. How it positions itself in the market, and against its competitors. And what are its target audiences.

Company Strengths and Weaknesses
Unique tactical competitive analysis based on the specific tactics that a company is using, and in-depth analysis of its products and capabilities.

Recommended Competitor Actions
Who are the company's main competitors, and what actions we can expect from each competitor or the market at large.

Recommended End User/Customer Actions
How customers (either end users or purchasers of this product for resale/bundling) should view the company. Should customers consider purchasing products/services from this company? What specific actions or questions should the customer pursue during negotiation phase?

Publication date: Supplier Assessment reports are updated every four months