Telecom Pragmatics

Specializing in Telecommunications Markets and Technologies

   


Independent Telco Tactics Monthly

One-year subscription includes 12 issues, corporate site license,
and access to analyst team for follow-up Q&A: US$1,495.00



April 2010 issue:
Probably Room for Just Two Large IOCs/
Second Part of CenturyTel-Qwest Merger
(updated May 2010)
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Eric Lampland, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Overview
Figure 1: The Missing Link
Figure 2: CenturyTel's Transport Leasing Expenditures from Qwest
Figure 3: Purchase of Level 3 and Global Crossing by IOCs?
Figure 4: Other Long-Haul Carriers that can be Purchased?
Figure 5: Embarq & Network Management
Figure 6: Billing Systems
Figure 7: Investments in Embarq Territory
Figure 8: Power Play
Figure 9: CenturyTel Credo?


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March/April 2010 Part 1 issue:
CenturyTel/Qwest Combination
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Eric Lampland, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Overview
Figure 1: Financial Analysis
Figure 2: Focus on Enterprise Business
Figure 3: Focus on Nationwide Footprint
Figure 4: Potential Wireless Acquisition Down the Road
Figure 5: CenturyTel's Biggest Problem with Qwest Acquisition
Figure 6: Looking Under Qwest's Hood
Figure 7: Cultural Transition
Figure 8: CenturyLink Ultimately Main Alternative to Verizon Business?
Figure 9: Calix Now Tier 1 Supplier







February 2010 issue:
FCC Broadband Outline/Calix's IPO/Round Two of "Anti-Stimulus"
(Updated March, 2010)
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Eric Lampland, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Overview
Figure 1: FCC Broadband Guidelines Disaster Waiting to Happen
Figure 2: Hype over 100MB/50MB in FCC Document
Figure 3: Outlook for FCC Broadband Ideas
Figure 4: Likely Determination Factors of Calix's Initial Valuation
Figure 5: Calix's Financial Situation
Figure 6: Future Look for Calix
Figure 7: Positive Changes in Broadband Stimulus Round II Process
Figure 8: Negative Aspects of Broadband Stimulus Round II Process
Figure 9: Further Elaboration on Connected Communities







January 2010 issue:
Zhone Technologies: An Uphill Path
(Updated March, 2010)
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Eric Lampland, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Overview
Figure 1: Financial Assessment of Zhone
Figure 2: Zhone's Three Major Challenges Going Forward
Figure 3: Why Can't Zhone Become Exclusively an Export Company?
Figure 4: Telecom Pragmatics' Recommended Strategy for Zhone
Figure 5: Historical Context for Zhone
Exhibit A: Zhone's Prior M&A Activities
Exhibit B: Salisbury & Zhone
Figure 6: Etisalat & Zhone
Figure 7: Zhone and GVT







December 2009 issue:
Calix Networks: Conflicting Interpretations of Future Strategy
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Eric Lampland, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Overview
Alternative Interpretation
Figure 1: Calix's Philosophy on Acquisitions
Quick Spotlight on Zhone Technologies
Figure 2: Win-Win with Conjectured Merger Between Calix & Cyan
Figure 3: Strategic Analysis of Cyan
Figure 4: Feedback from Service Provider Using Both Suppliers
Figure 5: Zhone at a Glance







November 2009 issue:
Occam Networks: A Strategic Analysis
(Updated December 8, 2009)
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Eric Lampland, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Financial Analysis
Occam's Overall Message
Assessment of International Play and on Ethernet Emphasis
Figure 1: Potential Case for Active Ethernet in Future by Occam
Figure 2: Telecom Pragmatics' Refutation of Occam's Active Ethernet Argument
Telecom Pragmatics' Recommendations on Occam's Future Strategy
Potential End Game for Occam?
Focus on the News
Calix Files IPO
Huawei Acquisition of Calix?







October 2009 issue:
Enablence Technologies: A Strategic Analysis
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Eric Lampland, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Enablence's Message
Telecom Pragmatics' Assessment of Enablence
Telecom Pragmatics' Recommendations on Enablence's Future Strategy
Conclusion
Figure 1: Telecom Pragmatics' Suggested Potential Strategy for Enablence
Focus on the News
FRP Bankrupt: Still Low Wall for VZ Lines in NY, PA, etc. Going to IOCs
Figure 2: Arguments for Verizon Not Doing More to Save FairPoint







September 2009 issue:
Viable DSL Strategies for RLECs
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Eric Lampland, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Overview
Case I: DSLAMs in Remote Areas
Wake-up Call for Independent Telcos
Case II: VDSL2 for Small to Medium Business Services
VDSL2
Bonding
Case III: VDSL2 for MDU Applications
Figure 1: DSL Bonding: Inefficient Way of Increasing Bandwidth
Case IV: DSL in Cities; Fiber in Rural Areas
Figure 2: Copper Technologies in Decline at IOCs







August 2009 issue:
Hosted PBX Services Critical to IOCs
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Financial Analysis
Soft Switches
Figure 1: IOC Rationale for Managed VoIP
Figure 2: Soft Switch Pricing in IOC Space
Media Gateways and SBCs
Operational and Capital Costs for Hosted PBX
Figure 3: Formula for Success in IOC Business Market
Hosted PBX Network Structure and Manufacturers
Marketing Practicality
Other Service Providers in Hosted PBX Space
IOCs as Major Opportunity for Soft Switch Vendors
Conclusion
Focus on the News
TDS Announces Acquisition
Level 3 and the Stimulus
Extension on Applications







July 2009 issue:
Government Stimulus Impact on Telecom Infrastructure at IOCs
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Major Vendor Beneficiaries
Financial Analysis
Dominance by Independents Telcos in Process
Cable TV Companies
Figure 1: Projected Priority for Funds by Telecom Pragmatics
FTTH vs Alternative Technologies
Qwest and DSL?
Figure 2: Projected Priority for Technology by Telecom Pragmatics
Middle Mile Factors
The Anti-Stimulus Nature of the Bill
Supplier Considerations
Conclusion
Focus on the News
"Buy American Exception under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009"
Telephony's "Rural telcos seek bigger role for Universal Service in National Broadband Plan"
"Survey of Broadband Users Shows Satisfaction Highest Among those with Direct Fiber Connections," commissioned by the FTTH Council

Press Release






June 2009 issue: M&A Activity of IOCs
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Projected Consolidation of Independent Telcos
Financial Analysis
Impact on Equipment Supplier Community
Frontier's Purchase of Verizon Assets
CenturyTel/Embarq Merger (CenturyLink)
Windstream's Acquisition of D&E Communications
FairPoint Communications and Northern New England
Others
Conclusion
Focus on the News
FCC Publishes "Bringing Broadband to Rural America"
Holdup in Stimulus Funds?
From Nashua Telegraph, "PUC to FairPoint: Wait to collect cash"








May 2009 issue: Advancing Independent Telco Boom
Authors: Samuel Greenholtz, John Griffin, Mark Lutkowitz, and David Gross

Table of Contents

Projected Independent Telco Line Market Size for 2015
Financial Analysis
Major Factors Causing Independent Telco Ascendency
Continuing Sales of RBOC Rural Lines
FairPoint & Hawaiian Telcom Experiences not Showstoppers
Government Subsidization
High Growth Levels in Exurbia
RLEC Concentration Levels Increase
ILECs will Most of the Time Beat Out CLECs/MSOs for Business Services
Network & Business Strategies for Large RLECs
Network & Business Strategies for Small RLECs
Conclusion
Focus on the News
Verizon Selling Large Number of Lines to Frontier
Windstream Purchases D&E Communications
Telephony report: "Bad economy may be slowing RLEC line loss"


Press Release









Profile: Samuel Greenholtz