Hot wireline technologies, Carrier Ethernet 2.0, emerging telecom contenders and more

Sean Buckley, FierceTelecomDuring the past three years, the wireline industry has gone through rapid change as various vendors and service providers have either been bought or purchased other companies.

Take CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL). Traditionally nothing more than a small town telco delivering PSTN services, its acquisitions of other players such as Qwest and Savvis immediately made them a large national and, increasingly, an international player providing everything from cloud services, Ethernet, and wholesale Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) services to the wireless industry.

Below are some of the special reports FierceTelecom has written recently that focus on emerging technologies, Ethernet, and the emerging players that will have an impact on the wireline segment of the telecom industry.  

First, FierceTelecom examined the 10 hottest technologies such as the Metro Ethernet Forum's new Carrier Ethernet 2.0 specification that are changing the face of the telecommunications industry. Feature

Speaking of Ethernet, FierceTelecom Senior Editor Sean Buckley took a look at three different segments within Ethernet service delivery in a new story series:

  • Cable: Initially led by Cox Business and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), other cable operators such as Comcast  (Nasdaq: CMCSA), Charter (Nasdaq: CHTR), and Cablevision's (NYSE: CVC) Lightpath subsidiary also making a growing name for themselves in the Ethernet segment. Feature
     
  • Ethernet over Copper (EoC): Being the telco's ubiquitous wired medium, a growing base of CLECs and ILECs are expanding their respective Ethernet footprints by delivering EoC both large businesses with satellite offices and SMBs that are out of the reach of available fiber facilities. Feature
     
  • CLECs: Whether they are focused on one market like Alpheus or are a national player like tw telecom  (Nasdaq: TWTC) or XO Communications, CLECs have been making progress in responding to SMBs need for alternative players that are more willing to deliver Ethernet and other hosted services. Feature

Of course, the next question in the telecom industry is who will lead the next generation of telecom players in 2013 and beyond. Sam Bookman, Managing Editor for FierceTelecom examines that issue in the first installment of her "Contenders" story series. Feature

Please stay on the lookout for new features from the FierceTelecom team over the coming weeks and months.--Sean