tw telecom

tw telecom was a leading provider of business Ethernet services, Internet protocol (IP) virtual private network (VPN) services, and voice services in the United States. The company was founded in 1993 by Mark Larson and was headquartered in Littleton, Colorado, with operations in over 75 metropolitan areas, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. tw telecom provided services to a wide range of customers, including Fortune 500 companies, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and government agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Security Agency (NSA).

● History

The company was founded in 1993 as a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) and initially focused on providing local telephone service to businesses in the Denver, Colorado area. Over time, tw telecom expanded its services to include long-distance telephone service, Internet access, and data networking services, partnering with companies like Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks. In the early 2000s, the company began to focus on providing Ethernet services, including Ethernet local area network (LAN) and Ethernet wide area network (WAN) services, to businesses and government agencies, such as the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). tw telecom also worked with Equinix, Coresite Realty, and Digital Realty Trust to provide data center services.

● Products and Services

tw telecom provided a wide range of products and services, including business Ethernet services, IP VPN services, and voice services, such as SIP trunking and hosted private branch exchange (PBX). The company also offered managed services, including network monitoring and security services, in partnership with companies like IBM, AT&T, and Verizon Communications. tw telecom's services were designed to meet the needs of businesses and government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with high-bandwidth and low-latency requirements. The company's Ethernet services were certified by organizations like the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

● Network and Infrastructure

tw telecom's network and infrastructure were designed to provide high-speed and reliable services to its customers, with a focus on diversity and redundancy. The company's network included over 27,000 route miles of fiber optic cable, with connections to over 16,000 commercial buildings and data centers, including those operated by Interxion, TelecityGroup, and Level 3 Communications. tw telecom also had interconnection agreements with other network service providers, such as Sprint Corporation, T-Mobile US, and Cogent Communications, to provide seamless and end-to-end services to its customers. The company's network was managed by a team of experienced network engineers and operations personnel, who worked with companies like Ericsson and Nokia to ensure high-quality and reliable services.

● Acquisitions and Merger

In 2014, tw telecom was acquired by Level 3 Communications in a deal worth approximately $5.7 billion, with the acquisition being approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The acquisition expanded Level 3's network footprint and service offerings, and provided tw telecom's customers with access to a wider range of services, including global network services and cloud services, in partnership with companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. The acquisition also brought together two companies with a strong focus on Ethernet services, with Level 3 having a significant presence in the European market and tw telecom having a strong presence in the North American market, with customers like Google, Facebook, and Apple.

● Operations and Management

tw telecom was led by a team of experienced executives, including Mark Larson, the company's founder and former chief executive officer (CEO), and Larissa Herda, the company's former chairman and CEO. The company was headquartered in Littleton, Colorado, and had operations in over 75 metropolitan areas across the United States, with a significant presence in cities like San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, D.C.. tw telecom was a publicly traded company and was listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol TWTC, with major shareholders including The Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation. The company was also a member of various industry associations, including the United States Telecom Association (USTelecom) and the CompTIA, and worked with organizations like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Category:Telecommunications companies of the United States