Overture's New Chief Looks to 2009

Overture Networks (News - Alert) is a supplier of carrier Ethernet edge and aggregation to more than 180 service providers and enterprise customers worldwide, including 10 of the top 15 U.S. Carrier Ethernet service providers.

 

Just two weeks ago, the company announced the acquisition of Richardson, TX-based Ceterus (News - Alert) Networks, bringing aboard the Ceterus product family, which includes the industry’s newest and most full-featured optical Ethernet access solutions for cell site backhaul

 

David Stehlin, former President and CEO of Ceterus Networks (News - Alert) and the new President of Overture Networks was kind enough to take the time to answer a series of questions regarding the acquisition, and offer his outlook into 2009.

 

DS: 2008 was a great year for Overture Networks and we anticipate further success in 2009. This past year, the company expanded the team in North America and in Europe. We announced several major customers, including Verizon Business and COLT (News - Alert) Telecom. We received several awards, including inclusion in the Red Herring North American 100 and several leadership accolades for our CEO, Jeff Reedy. We released the ISG 6000, a Carrier Ethernet edge aggregator for Layer 1, 2 and 3 Ethernet. Finally, in December, we announced the acquisition of Ceterus Networks, a leader in Carrier Ethernet solutions for cell site backhaul, a bold move in uncertain times, but one that will strengthen our company in many areas!

 

DS: In summary, our biggest achievement was a significant expansion of the business. This is demonstrated through three key examples: first, our acquisition of Ceterus, second, the announcement and expansion of our relationship with Verizon Business (News - Alert) and, third, the release of our latest Carrier Ethernet platform — the ISG 6000.

 

The combination of the customers that came with Ceterus, the Verizon Business deal and our many existing large customers means that Overture Networks is now deployed in 10 of the top 15 Ethernet service providers in the United States — quite an accomplishment. We now have market-leading aggregation and access solutions for both Ethernet to the enterprise and cell site backhaul applications, with delivery over native Ethernet and circuit-based networks.

 

DS: We see continued growth and expansion into new markets. Overture Networks has some exciting plans in the works to help propel the company to a leadership position at the network edge and aggregation points — no matter whether that network is for retail business Ethernet services, wholesale services or backhaul services. The common denominator for all of these markets is Carrier Ethernet, and Overture is poised to take an even a more high-profile leadership position with our best-in-class product portfolio and our dedicated customer support.

 

DS: The new administration has identified infrastructure as a key element of rebuilding the U.S. economy, not only for the short-term benefit, but also to improve competition for the long haul. If we can get past politics as usual we will all be better off today and tomorrow.

 

DS: More bandwidth, more flexibility, more security and more management capabilities. We continue to see higher bandwidth requirements in enterprise applications and in mobility; it has just exploded. Carriers will need to build, manage and maintain networks for customers who never stop raising the bar of expectation. Technology, created by great engineering talent, will drive the IP industry to new heights, with Carrier Ethernet as the catalyst that will make this possible.

 

DS: While we believe that market conditions, and concerns about these conditions, will cause the reevaluation of many projects and probably force greater scrutiny of overall values and business cases, more Ethernet and IP-centric projects will make the cut, as carrier competition will be as strong as ever and new data services will help carriers differentiate. Fiber build-outs will probably be slow as service providers look to take more advantage of their current infrastructures. This actually plays well into some of Overture Networks’ core competencies — delivering Ethernet services over existing SONET/SDH and TDM facilities while providing the migration to next-generation networks. And, as providers seek to earn more revenue from their current solution offerings by providing premium service additions, Overture’s comprehensive OAM (operations, administration and maintenance) strategy will fit nicely into these plans.

 

DS: We are set apart by our relentless focus on the details that are important to customers. Overture Networks is passionate about product quality and will go above and beyond in our quest to support our customers’ networks. Additionally, we know how to find innovative ways to bring customers the features they need, when they need them, at price points that greatly improve their total costs of ownership. This is possible because our team members, from those facing the customer to those developing and manufacturing the products, share a vision and objectives that are aligned with the customer’s requirements.

 

DS: While it is the time to be prudent, companies that are committed to providing great service in difficult times will be rewarded.