CBeyond partners with HBR; Telecom Italia starts fiber network buildout

> IT and communications services provider CBeyond (Nasdaq: CBEY) is partnering with managed IT service provider HBR. They'll work together to offer communications services to SMBs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. News release.

> Telecom Italia (NYSE: TI) has commenced the buildout of its fiber network, starting in Catania's Borgo and Ognina districts, where it plans to pass 34,000 homes and businesses by the end of 2011. Story.

> IBM (NYSE: IBM) on Friday closed its acquisition of Blade Technologies. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based provider is now part of IBM's Systems and Technology group. News release.

> tw telecom (Nasdaq: TWTC) will provide IP, VPN and Ethernet services for Albany, N.Y.-based Pioneer Bank as part of a multi-year services agreement. News release.

> HickoryTech Corporation (Nasdaq: HTCO) declared a quarterly dividend of $.0135 per share, a 3.7 percent increase over the previous quarter dividend of $.013-its first increase since 2008. The dividend is payable Dec. 5. News release.

> The Wall Street Journal profiles Spain's Telefonica S.A. (NYSE: TEF) and its CEO Cesar Alierta. Story (sub. req.)

> Dave Schaeffer, CEO of Cogent Communications (Nasdaq: CCOI), will present at the upcoming Wells Fargo 1st Annual Media & Telecom Conference on Nov. 9. News release.

And finally... How exactly will the burgeoning cloud industry move forward? Rose Klimovich, Vice President of Product Development and Product Management for Telx posts a wish list at von|xchange ahead of the upcoming Cloud Computing Expo. Story.