Telx announces that Zayo has joined the Telx Ethernet Exchange. By joining the Telx Ethernet Exchange, located in Telx’s downtown Atlanta data center, Zayo can continue to grow its 518 mile metro fiber network. Telx, a leading interconnection and data center provider, offers the Ethernet Exchange as an advanced e-commerce tool connecting publishers, subscribers, providers and consumers with buyers and sellers of advanced network and application based services, providing simple, easy access to advanced IP products and network technologies.

Zayo’s interconnection with Telx will further extend network reach, opening new business opportunities with other wholesale buyers and sellers of Ethernet while ensuring end-to-end cross network quality of service. Zayo’s Ethernet service offering is designed as a carrier-grade transport alternative for traditional TDM, SONET, ATM and Frame Relay networks. Zayo offers protected and unprotected Ethernet with multiple interface options and speeds.

For more information on Zayo’s Ethernet service offerings, visit www.zayo.com.

TELEHOUSE America announces that Sidera Networks will provide its ultra low latency, scalable, reliable network infrastructure to TELEHOUSE customers for increased resiliency and advanced performance. Sidera’s network delivers unique access between major financial exchanges and leading colocation facilities throughout the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas. The partnership provides Sidera Networks access to TELEHOUSE’s premier colocation space with low to no cross connect fees.

Through this relationship, TELEHOUSE America’s clients can utilize Sidera Networks’ low-latency network, which provides connections between leading financial exchanges and other on-net facilities. TELEHOUSE’s carrier neutral data centers in New York City: 85 10th Avenue in Chelsea, 25 Broadway in the Wall Street area, and 7 Teleport Drive on Staten Island will now have access to Sidera’s first-class network, designed for reliable, flexible, low-latency and high capacity connectivity.

The entire press release can be found at http://www.jaymiescotto.com/clients/TELEHOUSE/Sidera-PR.htm. to learn more about TELEHOUSE America, visit www.TELEHOUSE.com.

Join TELEHOUSE America on July 21st at 11 am for the second part of its Peering Webinar Series. Building on the presentation from Peering 101, TELEHOUSE will dive deeper into the technical aspects of Peering.

The webinar will examine the ways of connecting to TELEHOUSE’s Peering Exchange, how to maximize peering and share traffic, and how TELEHOUSE’s equipment can offer new, advanced services beyond the standard Peering Exchange. Featured speakers include Akio Sugeno, VP of Internet Engineering and Operations and Fred Cannone, Director of Sales.

Register now to secure your participation in the second part of TELEHOUSE’s Peering Webinar Series. For more information please email, elizabeth.mustacchio@telehouse.com.

PTGi ICS has joined the Telx Ethernet Exchange to simplify access for its Metro New York customers. This interconnection will leverage the facility-neutral Ethernet Exchange to enable fast and cost-effective access to PTGi’s data services platform. As a long standing customer of Telx, the Ethernet Exchange is an additional way for customers in the New York metro area to reach PTGi’s data services platform as well as thexchange^SM to buy and sell VoIP termination.

Interconnecting at the Telx Ethernet Exchange eliminates the need for a local loop, and provides PTGi with connectivity from 60 Hudson Street, 111 8^th Avenue and Clifton, NJ. PTGi delivers innovative voice and IP solutions that assist communications companies in creating efficient and valuable global interconnections. Through the Telx Ethernet Exchange, PTGi can distribute their product set while offering greater connectivity to customers in the New York Metro area that require secure, flexible and cost-effective Internet and Voice over IP services.

To learn more about PTGi ICS and its voice and data services, visit www.ptgi.com/ics.

By Jaymie Scotto Cutaia

Level 3 Communications says it will buy IP solutions and networking provider Global Crossing. The transaction is valued at $23.04 per share, or approximately $3 billion, including the assumption of approximately $1.1 billion of net debt from Global Crossing. The deal will be an all-stock transaction.

Already folks are speculating on why this deal is huge news.  Acccording to Dean Takahashi on Deals & More, “the deal brings a much-needed consolidation to the broadband market, where the potential for traffic growth is huge but the major players have been hurt by low prices.”

And Gigaom says that the deal will give Level 3 more clout to negotiate with bigger telecommunications players, such as Comcast, even as network ownership consolidates into the hands of fewer players.

But can we boil this down further?

Both L3 and Global Crossing are losing money.  Level3 lost $622 million last year and hasn’t turned a profit since 1998, according to Mr. Takahshi.  And Global Crossing lost $172 million in 2010 and it last turned an annual profit in 2003.

So why now and why an all-stock transaction?  How can a negative and a negative add up to a positive?  What’s the real pay-off here?

Let’s go back to the quote from John Legere, the CEO of Global Crossing, in the official press release, which stated, “The timing of this combination is perfect. The demand for online content – in all its forms – has created unprecedented demand for bandwidth, and our combined platform will enable us to move massive amounts of content around the world, largely on our own facilities, under our control. The need to bring scale to the market is more important than ever before, and that is something that the combined company will have – in spades.”

As Mr. Legere stressed, the deal is all about “on our own facilities, under our control”. This is a direct reference to owning- and therefore controlling the fiber.  The telecom world is quickly dividing into two factions: those who have fiber and those who do not.

This critical infrastructure— and then the power to select whom has access to this infrastructure–   is becoming an apparent, all-out battle.  It stirs up the old net neutrality argument— and how those who have control over the last mile of fiber can thereby dictate the terms, especially for the enterprise market.  So how do we right this ship and get out of the death spiral?  I’ll tell you this: I’m not holding my breath until Global Crossing and Level3 let me have access to their fiber stock.

We need an immediate, carrier and network-neutral, dark fiber provider that is willing to incur the outrageous start-up costs (ideally with government support- if Obama is still interested in his big broadband push) so we can actually lay the much-needed fiber ducts across the expansive USA, to allow folks in the Bible Belt- and the non-NFL cities- to have access to choice and to ‘fiber freedom’.  We need to take the technology that’s blossoming on the east and west coast – and bring it to rural America who could use the fiber and connectivity and access for increasing the wealth of education, starting businesses and saving the family farms.  As a woman who spends her time between the city and the country, and sees the disparity between “those who have” and “those who have not” on a regular basis, it’s time to connect our country.

The 2011 SubTel Forum had a great article called “2011: The Year of the Investment to Neutral, Dark Fiber Network Infrastructure” — and it points out clearly that this is Allied Fiber’s plan— to build the necessary dark fiber infrastructure and give access to all.  And that this fiber plan can be duplicated in metro communities, over and over again, and similar to the Internet, can branch out and reach the hard-to-reach.

This sounds more like the big deal to me.

AboveNet announced today they are expanding their network capabilities through Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet Exchange network at their 75 Broad Street location in New York, NY. With this agreement, Neutral Tandem can provide their customers with immediate access to AboveNet’s Ethernet connectivity services and extensive fiber optic footprint in the top metro markets.

Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet service offers an efficient and simplified method of interconnecting on a one-to-many basis and Ethernet service providers can now virtually connect to multiple access providers in over 100 PoPs around the world through a single connection to the Neutral Tandem Ethernet Exchange network.

Read the full release here. For more information on Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet Exchange Network visit www.neutraltandem.com. Follow Neutral Tandem on Twitter- @NeutralTandem

JS&A is excited to announce the 2011 Telecom Exchange event to take place on June 29th at the Cipriani Wall Street in NYC. The Telecom Exchange is a networking event designed to navigate telecom operators through the many colocation and connectivity options in and around the New York Tri-State area and the rest of the world. Our purpose is to create the neutral playing field while showcasing all colocation providers, data center facilities, and local and international network providers with a network presence in the NY area. We believe this event, which focuses on key, carrier-neutral colocation space in the Northeast and the network connectivity options available within these spaces, will do great things for the industry at large.

Each attendee will receive the Telecom Exchange Directory, a map of the NYC metro area with the available colocations and carrier hotels’ locations highlighted when they arrive onsite. Inside the Directory, we will include a complete list of the participating networks available within each space. The Directory will have a floor diagram to showcase the various networks and facilities that are exhibiting to further streamline business opportunities for participants. Additionally, all attendees will have access to the DealCenter, an online meeting planning system, to view other attendees, sort by services and PoP locations, and plan on-on-one meetings, to take place on-site at Telecom Exchange.

So please join us for this inaugural event as we will efficiently help you navigate the many connectivity options throughout the NYC-area. Current exhibitors include: Allied Fiber, China Unicom, Electronic Environments, FiberMedia, Galaxy Visions, Hibernia Atlantic, KDDI America, Metro Network Services, NJ Fiber Exchange, NTT Communications, TELEHOUSE America, Telx, TelPlexus Vello Systems and Wilshire Communications.

To exhibit at Telecom Exchange or to get your company name listed in the print and on-line Telecom Exchange Directory, click here. All exhibitors receive 2 free passes, a $350 value, plus table space and signage.

To find out how to become a Telecom Exchange sponsor, click here or email info@thetelecomexchange.com for more information.

While at Light Reading’s Ethernet Expo in New York on November 3, 2010, Neutral Tandem announced that its network integration with Tinet, the Italian wholesale IP/MPLS backbone provider it acquired on October 1, 2010 is now complete.  Just one-month after the close of the acquisition, Neutral Tandem and Tinet’s global network have been combined to provide the largest global Ethernet Exchange network solution available in the world.  The combined network now offers over 100 global Ethernet Points of Presence (PoPs) across three continents.  This footprint far surpasses all other Ethernet Exchange providers in the market – in addition – through their ‘networked’ model, the company also provides the value-added benefit of one-stop-shop solutions for customers who seek end-to-end Ethernet connectivity across the globe. 

Neutral Tandem’s global Ethernet Exchange is indeed a truly open exchange opportunity.  Customers have the ability to buy and sell Ethernet connectivity from any of the Neutral Tandem global PoPs while also leveraging any/all other providers interconnected to Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet Exchange at any other given point on the network.  Customers do not have to buy long-haul connectivity from Neutral Tandem, they can continue to negotiate deals directly with providers, however, Neutral Tandem is the only provider currently offering customers the choice to leverage its extensive global network footprint – providing commercial and network benefits to Ethernet Exchange members on its platform. 

The announcement is exciting for the Ethernet Exchange community – the press release in its entirety is below:

Neutral Tandem and Tinet Integrate Networks;

Creates the Largest Global Ethernet Exchange 

Chicago, IL, November 3, 2010 — Neutral Tandem, Inc. (Nasdaq: TNDM), a leading provider of global interconnection services, announced today that it has connected its all-IP, MPLS network with Tinet’s global Ethernet network.  The integrated networks can carry voice, video and data traffic worldwide, while operating as the largest Ethernet Exchange in the world.

“This represents the first major milestone tied to our integration efforts with Tinetand significantly enhances the value proposition of our global Ethernet Exchange service offering,” stated Surendra Saboo, President and Chief Operating Officer of Neutral Tandem.  “By tying together our 14 sites in the US with Tinet’s 99 Ethernet-enabled PoPs, Neutral Tandem now offers the most accessible and robust Ethernet Exchange in the world with over 100 locations spread across three continents.”

With its unique networked approach, Neutral Tandem has shifted the market dynamics by interconnecting each one of its Exchange locations over its global IP MPLS network.  With one connection to its Ethernet Exchange, customers can buy and sell to every other member connected to any of its exchange Points of Presence (PoPs), whether in San Francisco, Singapore or any of its 100+ locations across the world.  This solution enables service providers to easily discover and buy Ethernet services in markets outside their footprint.  It also enables access providers to advertise their building lists to all service providers across Neutral Tandem’s network.

The networked approach is further complemented by leveraging Tinet’s extensive experience with delivering Ethernet and VPLS connectivity globally. “Tinet has been selling Ethernet connectivity in the wholesale market since its inception, and its backbone currently carries about 100 Gbps of point-to-point and point-to-multi-point Ethernet traffic on behalf of over 100 customers,” said Paolo Gambini, Head of Sales and Marketing at Tinet. “We believe that no other player in the Ethernet Exchange market can match our track record as far as Ethernet services delivery and support is concerned.”

Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet Exchange acts as a nexus for the Ethernet Community by enabling providers to interconnect with one another in a more efficient and simplified manner in over a 100 interexchange points across the world. To learn more about Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet Exchange, visit http://www.neutraltandem.com/prodServices/ethernet-exchange.htm.

Cautions Concerning Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release regarding Neutral Tandem’s strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Neutral Tandem may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements Neutral Tandem makes. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: risks associated with our ability to successfully develop and market Ethernet Exchange or interconnection services, including but not limited to identifying, obtaining, operating and maintaining attractive network switch sites, equipment,  software and business support systems such as our Ethernet Exchange web portal, the risk that our business and the Tinet business will not be integrated successfully, cost estimation errors or overruns, interconnection delays, material delays or shortages, our inability to obtain and maintain necessary third party rights or permits on a timely basis, if at all, and other factors, including the impact of regulation, many of which are beyond our control and all of which could delay or negatively affect our ability to offer or market this new service; and other important factors included in Neutral Tandem’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly in the “Risk Factors” section of Neutral Tandem’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2009 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010, as such Risk Factors may be updated from time to time in subsequent reports. Neutral Tandem does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Neutral Tandem

Headquartered in Chicago, Neutral Tandem, Inc. provides voice, data and video interconnection services worldwide.  Neutral Tandem recently acquired Tinet, a global carrier exclusively committed to the IP Transit and Ethernet wholesale market.  The acquisition combines Neutral Tandem’s interconnection services for wireless, wireline, cable and broadband companies with Tinet’s global IP backbone.  Collectively, Neutral Tandem provides voice, IP Transit and Ethernet solutions to carriers, service providers, and content management firms worldwide.  With 14 Ethernet Exchanges, the company is now the largest Ethernet Exchange provider in the U.S., a top 10 global IPv4 backbone provider and the number one IPv6 network worldwide.   Please visit Neutral Tandem’s website at: www.neutraltandem.com and follow us on Twitter @NeutralTandem.

The Chicago and New York markets just got more Ethernet enabled.  Business Only Broadband (BOB), a broadband wireless Ethernet service provider serving the Chicago and New York markets has announced that it has joined the Neutral Tandem Ethernet Exchange Network.  By doing so, BOB’s metro wireless Ethernet network is made available to Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet Exchange market while BOB also gains access to other Exchange network operators for enhanced Ethernet network termination for its off-net business.  This is a great win for BOB and Neutral Tandem Ethernet Exchange customers as more network options create additional value for companies requiring end-to-end global Ethernet Connectivity.

Furthermore, Business Only Broadband (BOB) represents Neutral Tandem’s first broadband wireless Ethernet service provider to connect to its Exchange. BOB’s solutions offer extensive reach, speedy set-up and more diversity for customers with mission critical networking needs.  

Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet Exchange helps service providers interconnect using a more efficient and simplified method, which also allows for easy connectivity to multiple access providers in several markets with a single connection.

Read the full announcement below. For more information on Neutral Tandem, visit www.neutraltandem.com.

For more information on Business Only Broadband, visit www.bobbroadband.com.

Neutral Tandem, Inc. announces the addition of Business Only Broadband as an Ethernet Exchange Customer

Chicago, November 2, 2010 – Neutral Tandem, Inc. (Nasdaq: TNDM), a leading provider of global interconnection services, today announced the participation of Business Only Broadband (BOB) in its Ethernet Exchange.  Surendra Saboo, President and COO at Neutral Tandem stated, “We’re excited to have BOB join our exchange as the first fixed broadband wireless Ethernet service provider.  Since we’re also a customer of BOB , we have experienced the value of their solution first hand.”

BOB provides scalable Ethernet services throughout the Chicagoland and New York City Metro areas. “We are uniquely positioned to offer extended reach, quick installation, and network diversity for customers that have immediate and mission critical networking needs. The Ethernet Exchange allows us to better serve our customers while giving the other exchange participants the opportunity to take full advantage of our flexibility, network diversity and speed to market,” said Alan Rosenberg, CEO of BOB.

Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet Exchange provides Ethernet service providers with a more efficient and simplified method of interconnecting on a one-to-many basis. Utilizing Neutral Tandem’s Ethernet Exchange service solves the complex technical and business challenges traditionally tied to interconnecting to multiple service providers on a one-on-one basis. In addition, Ethernet service providers can virtually connect to multiple access providers in several markets through a single connection to the Neutral Tandem Ethernet Exchange.

Cautions Concerning Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release regarding Neutral Tandem’s strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Neutral Tandem may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements Neutral Tandem makes. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: risks associated with our ability to successfully develop and market Ethernet Exchange or ethernet services, including but not limited to identifying, obtaining, operating and maintaining attractive network switch sites, equipment, software and business support systems, such as our Ethernet Exchange web portal, the risk that our business and the Tinet business will not be integrated successfully, cost estimation errors or overruns, interconnection delays, material delays or shortages, our inability to obtain and maintain necessary third party rights or permits on a timely basis, if at all, and other factors, including the impact of regulation, many of which are beyond our control and all of which could delay or negatively affect our ability to offer or market this new service; and other important factors included in Neutral Tandem’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly in the “Risk Factors” section of Neutral Tandem’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2009 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010, as such Risk Factors may be updated from time to time in subsequent reports. Neutral Tandem does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Neutral Tandem

Headquartered in Chicago, Neutral Tandem, Inc. provides voice, data and video interconnection services worldwide.  Neutral Tandem recently acquired Tinet, a global carrier exclusively committed to the IP Transit and Ethernet wholesale market.  The acquisition combines Neutral Tandem’s interconnection services for wireless, wireline, cable and broadband companies with Tinet’s global IP backbone.  Together with Tinet, Neutral Tandem provides voice, IP Transit and Ethernet solutions to carriers, service providers, and content management firms worldwide.  Operating 14 Ethernet Exchanges, the company is now the largest Ethernet Exchange provider in the U.S., a top 10 global IPv4 backbone provider and the number one IPv6 network worldwide.    Please visit Neutral Tandem’s website at: www.neutraltandem.com and follow us on Twitter @NeutralTandem.  Please also visit Tinet’s website at: www.tinet.net.

About Business Only Broadband,

Headquartered in Westmont, Illinois Business Only Broadband provides Carrier Class Metro Ethernet Fixed Wireless Network Solutions to the Hospitality, Enterprise, Healthcare, Education and Government Sectors in Chicago and NYC. BOB’s networks are 100% diverse from the embedded Telco infrastructure and are the largest fixed wireless broadband networks in its markets. Please visit BOB’s website at www.bobbroadband.com

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Media Contact:

Jaymie Scotto &  Associates

Ilissa Miller

1-866-695-3629

pr@jaymiescotto.com

Twitter: @NeutralTandem

Investor Contact:

Neutral Tandem, Inc.

Jim Polson

1-866-268-4744

Join Movius and Neutral Tandem for a free webinar on November 3, 2010 at 2:00pm ET as they explain how carriers can bring more innovative solutions to market ahead of the competition using Software as a Service (SaaS).

 Leading this discussion will be Sara Huges, Senior Director of Product Marketing for Movius, along with John Butz, Senior Director of New Product Development for Neutral Tandem as the co-speaker.

Space is limited! To register, please go to: http://www.fiercewireless.com/offer/movius-nov2010

To read the full announcement, click here.