Colin C. Haley

Unless you practice bankruptcy or white-collar defense law, it’s hard to take anything positive from 2002’s telecom meltdown. But others have benefited. Companies that managed through the malaise are buying valuable network assets and customers (both at a national and regional level) from those who didn’t — and at bargain prices. Today’s example is CenturyTel […]

Daniel F. Akerson, chairman and CEO of XO Communications , is resigning after three years with the network operator to “pursue other business interests and spend more time with his family.” His departure is expected next month when the Reston, Va., company’s bankruptcy reorganization plan takes effect (pending final regulatory approval). Akerson will continue to […]

For the telecommunications industry, 2002 was a year in which convoluted (and in some cases criminal) accounting practices were exposed, slack demand continued to buffet growth and a flurry of mergers and bankruptcies staved off outright closures for some big-name players. It started bad. After years of feverish investment in fast, but pricey networks, carriers […]

After selling its stake in a Japanese portal last week, Internet search and content provider Terra Lycos has reached a sales and marketing agreement with the new owners. Key to the pact is branding. The portal will retain the Lycos Japan name, and certain products and services available will also be sold under the Lycos […]

DSL customer premises equipment (CPE) — including gateways and routers — represents an opportunity for telecom equipment makers to improve margins, according to a new report from the Yankee Group. “Despite falling prices and new entrants into this competitive arena, the DSL (CPE) market opportunity will continue to be strong over the next five years,” […]

Storage Area Networks (SANZ), which earlier this year added staff in Washington, D.C., to more aggressively pursue government clients, has notched orders from two new federal agencies, totaling more than $5 million. The agencies were not named. The Castle Rock, Colo., company also believes it will win several more projects when Congress reconvenes to vote […]

President George W. Bush this morning signed the Electronic Government Act of 2002, a bill that earmarks $345 million over the next four years for federal technology projects, according to the White House Press Office. The measure, which was passed by Congress last month, establishes an e-Government Fund that starts at $45 million in 2003 […]

“We absolutely made tradeoffs. We will take a short-term revenue hit but make up in the long run through a greater audience,” — Tom Wilde, general manager for search services, Terra Lycos. After a period of benign neglect, Terra Lycos Monday launched a new version of its HotBot search engine, featuring an ad-free homepage and […]

Covad Communications is augmenting its digital subscriber line offerings with long distance and local calling as part of a new bundled service for small businesses. Initially, the package — featuring high-speed Internet access, e-mail, Web hosting, and service for up to eight phones — will be available in the San Francisco area. If successful there, […]

Cablevision Systems will use Level 3 Communications network services to support its fast-growing Optimum Online cable modem service in the New York metropolitan area. Financial terms were not disclosed. “Reliable network performance is a key factor contributing to the quality of service that Optimum Online customers have come to expect,” said Gemma Toner, an Optimum […]

Voice and data giant SBC Communications is negotiating a multi-year deal with billing and customer relationship management software specialist Amdocs . The proposed pact includes upgrading IT systems in SBC’s directory operation and possibly outsourcing certain functions. “Details of any such agreement would be communicated if and when it is finalized by both parties,” St. […]

The merger of wireless telecom equipment makers P-Com and Telaxis Communications has hit a snag. The deal between the Campbell, Calif., and South Deerfield, Mass., firms was announced in early September and would have provided Telaxis stockholders 1.117 shares of P-Com common stock for each share of Telaxis common stock. But citing changes in “business […]