One of Cosine's largest customers (Qwest) signed $100 million worth of VPN service deals recently. Maybe Qwest will need some more Cosine equipment soon. - microe
internetnews.com
VPN Deals Prove Qwest Still Viable
By Jim Wagner
Officials at Qwest Communications (NYSE:Q), one of the four incumbent telephone companies in the U.S., announced Wednesday more than $100 million in advanced networking service deals.
Big-name deals with companies like Petco Animal Supplies Inc., and Alliance Gaming Corp. for virtual private networking (VPN) services prove that while the telephone company might have serious financial hurdles to overcome, they won't be going out of business anytime soon.
VPNs give businesses with multiple facilities secure transmission routes over public telephone lines using encryption and other security means. This lets companies pass sensitive information, like employee information and payroll accounts, between its nodes without fear of compromise.
According to Shaun Gilmore, Qwest executive vice president of global accounts, his company is one of the "founding fathers" and market leaders in the corporate VPN industry. The deals announced Wednesday only give credence to their claims, he said.
"Our comprehensive suite of Internet protocol-based VPN, firewall and managed security solutions enables Qwest to accommodate almost any business' wide area networking or security requirement, he said. "Qwest is the technical and market leader for VPN, supporting customers on five continents."
According to market research company International Data Corp. (IDC), VPN services in the U.S., which has to date a relatively slow adoption rate in corporate America, will surge from $5.4 billion in sales last year to $14.7 billion in 2006 overall.
The economic downturn, a recent study released by the analysis firm reports, attributed to slow deployment in 2001 and will likely keep VPN sales in 2002. Telephone companies like Qwest will see increased gains in 2003, ultimately growing into sales of $5.3 billion in 2006.
Steve Harris, IDC senior analyst for network and VPN services, said the fact Qwest has been offering this service for years will pay dividends for the company down the road for the troubled carrier.
"Internet protocol VPN services are one bright spot despite the challenging telecommunications market," he said. "Qwest's long presence with IP VPN services makes it one of the more experienced carriers in the U.S. marketplace."
That's good news for Qwest, which has been under a firestorm of bad publicity following the defection of its short-term creditors while looking for $4 billion in credit relief.
Since then, Joseph Nacchio, Qwest chairman and chief executive officer, has been making the rounds on TV talk shows like CNN's MoneyLine with Lou Dobbs and others to reassure jittery investors as he steers his company towards profitability.
The carrier spent much of 2001 and the first month of 2002 streamlining its operations, including a highly-publicized deal which gave MSN management of its digital subscriber line (DSL) business, one of its least-profitable (though popular) divisions. Qwest also assimilated its independent outsourcing company Qwest Cyber.Solutions, bringing it under the umbrella of its hosting division. |
