TDS Completes Fiber Network Build in Merrimac, Wisconsin

MADISON, WI — TDS Telecom’s fiber network build in Merrimac, Wis. is now complete. The network upgrades, impacting the former Merrimac Communications footprint, now connects more than 6,000 residential and business addresses to up to gigabit internet speeds, TV, and phone service.

“When we purchased Merrimac Communications we promised to bring state-of-the-art services,” says Julie Maiers, vice president of Marketing for TDS, “We have kept that promise. Customers can now enjoy some of the fastest internet speeds in the state, plus all-digital TV service, and reliable phone connections.”

Forty-six Miles of Buried Fiber

TDS finalized their purchase of Merrimac Communications in February 2018 and connected the first customers to the new fiber-optic network earlier this year. Now, the fiber build is complete and available to all addresses included as part of the project. The build included burying 46 miles of fiber and installing 14 equipment cabinets.

The vast majority of former Merrimac Communications customers have already upgraded to the new TDS Fiber service. The few remaining customers have been contacted about transitioning to TDS Fiber before Merrimac Communications services are discontinued on December 16.  

Residential Fiber up to 1 Gbps

Residential customers who order TDS Fiber can order up to 1Gig internet speed, as well as TDS TV and phone. The TV service offers a variety of features not available to Merrimac Communications customers previously. For example, the included Connected-Home DVR links all TVs together in a home giving full DVR functionality and programming access to each wireless set-top box.

Businesses within the TDS Fiber footprint can order internet access and transport connections up to 10Gig via dedicated fiber, TDS managed IP (a hosted VoIP communications solution), as well as TDS TV.

With the discontinuation of Merrimac Communication services, the local office at 327 Palisade St. will no longer be open for walk-in traffic as of December 16. The facility will remain in use by TDS for local and regional field service technicians.

In the coming weeks TDS will wrap-up the remaining connection work and continue customer installations. Residents can visit TDSFiber.com to learn more about the services offered and call 888-225-5837 to sign up for service.

Tilson, Microsoft to expand rural broadband access

Tilson, the fast-growing Portland-based network deployment and IT professional services firm, will team up with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) to expand rural broadband internet access nationwide.

In a news release Tuesday, the companies said the initiative aims to extend access to 3 million unserved and underserved rural Americans by July 2022, helping close the rural broadband gap.

Under the agreement, Tilson and an affiliate called SQF LLC will perform and deliver network systems integration, pole ownership and consulting services for internet service providers nationwide that are part of Microsoft's Airband Initiative, which seeks to make use of low-cost wireless technologies to get more people in the world online. 

"Working with Microsoft and our ISP partners demonstrates our continued commitment to provide innovative solutions and make broadband more accessible and affordable for residents and businesses in our rural communities, said Tilson CEO Josh Broder, honored as a Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year in 2018.

Paul Garnett, senior director of the Microsoft Airband Initiative said, "Tilson has the proven track record and national footprint to help support large scale fixed wireless provider deployments as well as the successful expansion of an emerging TV white space ecosystem. Strategic partnerships with systems integrators such as Tilson will provide invaluable project support in the global effort to connect rural communities."

Building Maine's tech-solving 'brand' 

In response to a query from Mainebiz, Tilson said the effort with Microsoft will help Maine in two ways.

First, Tilson employees in the Pine Tree State are working on the project with impacts all over the country.

"We are putting more people to work solving the thorny problems of rural broadband and building our state's brand as a place you turn to solve complex technical problems," Broder said. "We have already launched engineering work in Maine for several other states, and already have people in the field in those states deploying networks."

Second, Tilson is helping another Microsoft partner, RTO Wireless, to deploy in Maine, by providing consulting, engineering, construction and pole ownership for new broadband technologies.

"For example," Broder said, "we recently deployed a trial TV whites space wireless site for them in Standish."

Long-term mission

Microsoft estimates that nearly 50% of the global population is not online.

Broder told Mainebiz said the target of bringing rural broadband to 3 million people is just an intermediate one for Tilson's initiative with Microsoft, and that there is no planned end date for that work.

"We are not done," he said, "until everyone in the world is well-served, and since data demand and expectations keep rising, we know we have to go back to places that were once considered well-served and bring the next generation of broadband technology."

Tilson employs more than 550 people in 23 locations nationwide and continues to staff up in several areas, listing dozens of open positions on its website.

Liberty Global steps in to rescue UPC/Sunrise deal

In a bid to rescue the uncertain takeover of its subsidiary UPC Switzerland by Swiss telecommunications company Sunrise, Liberty Global is to participate in the capital increase arranged to finance the deal and become a shareholder in the combined entity. However, Sunrise’s largest single shareholder Freenet still opposes the transaction.

Liberty Global has agreed to support the Sunrise rights offering up to an aggregate amount of CHF500 million (€455 million) through the purchase of trade-able subscription rights at market prices and the subsequent purchase of newly issued shares, if any, in the rights offering.

If fully utilized, the move would lead to Liberty Global owning 7.8% in Sunrise at current market prices. Sunrise and Liberty Global have also agreed that Liberty Global will receive one board seat nomination as long as its shareholding exceeds 5%. All other terms of the CHF6.3 billion transaction remain unchanged.

“We have always believed in the logic of this combination. It creates a national powerhouse that will provide a fully-converged challenger to Swisscom and represents a smart and accretive transaction for both Sunrise and Liberty shareholders,” said Mike Fries, CEO of Liberty Global. “We are also happy to support the financing. Both investors and consumers win when this deal closes.”

The takeover of UPC Switzerland is subject to the majority of Sunrise shareholders approving the capital increase at an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for October 23, 2019. Swiss regulatory authority WEKO recently approved the deal without conditions.

Sunrise welcomed Liberty Global’s move, arguing that the company could add considerable value by leveraging its operational and integration experience to support the management in delivering the synergies and running its high-speed broadband network. Liberty Global’s investment in the capital increase would also lessen the financial commitment needed from Sunrise shareholders.

“We welcome Liberty Global’s investment in our rights issue which further validates the compelling strategic and financial rationale of the combination between Sunrise and UPC Switzerland,” said Peter Kurer, chairman of the board of directors of Sunrise. “Liberty Global is a leading global cable operator and will bring considerable experience to our board to support management in running the combined business and delivering on our identified, actionable synergies. We look forward to welcoming Liberty Global as a significant shareholder in our company and, in due course, as partner in our board.”

However, it still remains uncertain whether the deal will go through. Sunrise’s largest single shareholder, German media group Freenet, has decided to uphold its opposition although Liberty Global’s move to become a shareholder in the combined entity has been one of the conditions demanded by Freenet.

“Liberty Global’s participation does not change our position or that of the majority of other shareholders on the deal”, a Freenet spokesperson told Broadband TV News. “We continue to believe that the deal is not good. The latest developments show that Sunrise is now trying every trick in the book to turn the tide. Liberty Global merely announces that it will participate at rock-bottom prices with the money it has won from an overpriced sale. This is a slap in the face of all existing shareholders.”

AT&T Sells Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands Assets to Liberty for $1.95B

Deal will boost Liberty’s holdings on the islands, expects to close in Q2 2020

Liberty Latin America has agreed to purchase AT&T’s wireless and wireline assets in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for $1.95 billion in cash, the company said Wednesday. 

Liberty Latin America, which was spun off from John Malone’s LibertyGlobal as an independent publicly traded company in 2018, already has an extensive presence in Puerto Rico. This deal, according to Liberty Latin America CEO Balan Nair, will allow the company to expand its product portfolio to include a popular post-paid mobile offering and increase its distribution channels on the island.

News of the deal boosted Liberty Latin America stock was up nearly 3% in early trading Wednesday to $17.06 per share.

“The combination of AT&T’s leading mobile businesses with Liberty Puerto Rico’s leading high-speed broadband and TV business will create a strong and competitive integrated communications player, with a combined annual revenue of over $1.2 billion in Puerto Rico and $4.6 billion across LLA,” Nair said in a press release. “By continuing to invest in digital infrastructure, innovation, 5G networks and a friendly customer service experience, we are confident that this new combination will support our long-term growth profile and that this deal will be free cash flow accretive on a per share basis.”

The sale should also serve to calm some investors who had been advocating for AT&T to sell off non-core assets to help pay down its $80 billion in debt. In September, investor Elliott Management called for the company to sell off its DirecTV and WarnerMedia units to focus on its core wireless business. While this deal is not early as extreme, it shows that the company is at least paying attention. 

The assets involved in the deal include AT&T’s consumer mobile and B2B services in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but exclude its DirecTV customers in those areas. In Puerto Rico, which Liberty said accounts for about 90% of the total assets being acquired, AT&T is the top provider of mobile services, and has agreed to support Liberty Latin America for up to 36 months following the closing of the deal to enable an efficient transition.

Liberty Latin America will finance the transaction through a combination of $2.2 billion in borrowings on the combined assets and Liberty Puerto Rico (including refinancing $922.5 million in existing term loans at Liberty Puerto Rico) and the remaining $750 million from Liberty Latin America’s committed liquidity of $2.0 billion on June 30. 

Liontree LLC and Credit Suisse are acting as financial advisers to Liberty Latin America on the transaction. 

Top Latvian cable operator Baltcom sold

Bite Latvija has signed a purchase agreement to buy Baltcom, one of the leading cable operators in Latvia and Baltic Republics.

Quoting Kaspars Buls, the CEO of Bite Latvija, Dienas Bizness reports that the transaction, details of which are confidential, is subject to the approval of the Competition Council.

It adds that the two companies will continue to operate independently until permission is granted.

Buls also said that the acquisition will strengthen the competitiveness of the Bite Group, which currently offers mobile services.

Bite Latvija is owned by Bite Lietuva, which is backed by Providence Equity Partners, and has a share capital of €99.085 million. It had a turnover of €99.978 million and profit of €14.964 million in 2018.

Meanwhile, Baltcom, which was establised in 1991, has a registered capital of €33.011 million.

Solely owned by Luxembourg-registered Rpax One, it has a turnover of €17.099 million in 2018, or 3.4% more than a year earlier, while its loss fell by 48.6% to €1.914 million.

Deutsche Bank crowned global market leader for FI cash management in Euromoney survey

Survey of 25,000 corporates and financial institutions sees Deutsche Bank claim top prize in 19 global, regional and country categories for its cash management services and market leadership.

Deutsche Bank has been named the leading provider of cash management services to financial institutions in Euromoney’s Cash Management Survey 2019, while climbing to third place globally for corporate business.

“In the hotly contested Cash Management space, where Banks and FinTechs alike fight hard to gain market share and digitization revolutionizes the game, it is an outstanding achievement to have not only defended, but improved our position. There is no truer testament to our ability to provide market leading integrated treasury workflow solutions, across payments, liquidity and FX, than the confirmation and vote of confidence from our clients across the world" said Ole Matthiessen, global Head of Cash Mangement.

The survey, carried out annually since 2001 and widely considered a yardstick for success in the cash management business, received over 25,000 responses from both corporate and financial institution clients.

In the corporate polls, Deutsche Bank retained top spot for market share in both Germany and Western Europe for the eighth consecutive year, while leading the way for both market share and customer satisfaction in Portugal and Spain. The Bank was also named Best Service Provider in South Korea.

In the financial institution polls, Deutsche Bank showed its dominance in euro-denominated business – claiming top spot in Western Europe, the Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe, North America and Latin America. Its strength in US dollar clearing also saw it lead the way for market share in Western Europe as well as Central and Eastern Europe, where it also placed number one for the British pound and Japanese yen.

In addition, the Bank was also voted number one globally for Personnel and Best Service Provider in Latin America.

About Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank provides commercial and investment banking, retail banking, transaction banking and asset and wealth management products and services to corporations, governments, institutional investors, small and medium-sized businesses, and private individuals. Deutsche Bank is Germany’s leading bank, with a strong position in Europe and a significant presence in the Americas and Asia Pacific.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they include statements about our beliefs and expectations and the assumptions underlying them. These statements are based on the plans, estimates and projections currently available to the management of Deutsche Bank. Forward-looking statements therefore speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any of them in light of new information or future events. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could therefore cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include the conditions in the financial markets in Germany, in Europe, in the United States and elsewhere from which Deutsche Bank derives a substantial portion of its revenues and in which the bank holds a substantial portion of its assets, the development of asset prices and market volatility, potential defaults of borrowers or trading counterparties, the implementation of strategic initiatives of the bank, the reliability of the bank’s risk management policies, procedures and methods, and other risks referenced in the bank’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors are described in detail in the bank’s SEC Form 20-F of 22 March 2019 under the heading “Risk Factors”. Copies of this document are readily available upon request or can be downloaded from www.db.com/ir.

C Spire Improves Mobile Broadband Speeds and Prepares Network for Coming 5G Era

Telecom company installs new, next-generation cellular base stations and software in its 1,200-plus cell sites

Ridgeland, Miss. (September 17, 2019) – Consumers and businesses are experiencing a 15 to 20 percent improvement in mobile broadband speeds throughout much of C Spire’s wireless network – thanks to installation of new base stations and software that will serve as the foundation for the company’s transition to the next generation of cellular technology.

C Spire, a Mississippi-based telecommunications and technology services company, operates the nation’s largest privately- owned mobile services firm and is in the final stages of work on the multi-million-dollar project with completion expected by the end of this month.

The firm has spent much of 2019 upgrading the 1,200-plus cell sites in its wireless network and laying the groundwork for the next phase of mobile communications, which promises to transform how consumers live, work and play and how businesses thrive in the new 21st century digital economy.

“We are uniquely positioned with low, mid and high-band spectrum to ensure that we design and engineer a network that is truly customer inspired and fully meets customer needs for speed, latency and coverage,” said Alan Jones, senior vice president of Access and Deployment for C Spire.

Before the company starts rolling out next generation cellular technology, though, it must have the new, updated base stations and software that will enable a smooth transition from current 4G LTE technology and maximum flexibility and efficiency for use of precious spectrum resources.

“We’re using carrier aggregation technology, which brings together spectrum from multiple frequency bands for improved speed and spectral efficiency, and other software and hardware improvements to achieve better speeds and pave the way for Voice over LTE or high-definition mobile voice service,” Jones added.

The new base stations are adaptable, powerful and able to meet C Spire’s future needs for a next generation cellular network, software-defined services and the Internet of Things. “Not only does this new technology deliver high quality connectivity and coverage, but it helps us quickly evolve our network to meet changing requirements,” Jones said.

New mobile networks are expected to be the foundation for advances in smart home applications, smart manufacturing, smart cities and broader Internet of Things technology, including humanoid robotics, connected cars, remote surgery, artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

“Imagine downloading a 4K movie in seconds or watching video in a crowded football stadium with no buffering,” Jones said. “That’s the potential, the promise and the challenge of 5G. We need to chart an intelligent, timely and efficient path from 4G LTE to 5G that makes this a reality.”

Some analysts are forecasting the IOT market to grow to $520 billion by 2021 and the number of cellular IoT connections to reach 3.5 billion by 2023. “The potential is mind-boggling – so we have to make sure we have the right technology and the right network to support all of that activity,” Jones added.

As a part of the C Spire Tech Movement to build a better future through technology, education and innovation, 5G could help close the digital divide that limits innovation and opportunity in rural areas of the U.S. The technology could pave the way for new education possibilities, opportunities for rural farmers and small-town entrepreneurs while giving working people greater access to healthcare and near instant connections to friends and family.

Earlier this year, C Spire formed a consortium with Airspan Networks, Microsoft, Nokia and Siklu to test and deploy a variety of broadband technologies and new business models for use by regional fixed and wireless internet service providers, utilities and others to help improve broadband connectivity and adoption in rural areas.

To learn more about C Spire 5G, visit www.cspire.com/5G. To learn more about the C Spire Tech Movement, visit www.cspire.com/techmvmt. To learn more about the C Spire Rural Broadband Consortium, visit www.cspire.com/rural-broadband-consortium.

About C Spire
C Spire is a diversified telecommunications and technology services company that provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.

LIBERTY BUSINESS LAUNCHES MANAGED SECURITY SERVICES SOLUTION “SECURED EDGE”

The new security solution provides network security management for any size and type of business

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, September 16, 2019 – Liberty Business, the business market division of Liberty Puerto Rico, recently launched “Secured Edge,” a managed security services solution that oversees network security for any size or type of business. Offered to Liberty Business by Fortinet, the product is available exclusively for Liberty Business customers.

“‘Secured Edge’ manages network security right at the business’ premises, which allows customers to focus on running their operations while giving them peace of mind,” said Antonio Llona, vice president of Liberty Business. “It also optimizes the network to isolate, control and prevent cybersecurity threats while using the industry’s best practices.”

In addition to cybersecurity control, Llona adds that “Secured Edge” offers customers many other benefits such as security templates and security configurations designed specifically for each business, an Enterprise license, better cybersecurity equipment configuration practices, periodical updates and 24/7 support. It also offers FortiSandBox, an advanced security service that provides top-rated proactive advanced threat detection.

“To make things even easier, ‘Secured Edge’ provides reports to comply with established regulations and policies, plus early alerts on new threats and intelligence to predict, detect and block zero-day malware. This is basically a product that can handle the latest in cybersecurity threats, which helps business owners rest easy knowing that their companies’ cybersecurity is in good hands,” added Llona.

“Secured Edge,” also offers other important features such as DNS filtering, content filtering, web filtering, VPN, port & IP network policies, intrusion prevention system, intrusion detection system, data loss prevention, antivirus and antispam. 

Liberty Business customers interested in obtaining “Secured Edge” should call (787) 963-1000 or visit https://business.libertypr.com/.

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About Liberty Puerto Rico:

Liberty Puerto Rico is a subsidiary of Liberty Latin America and has approximately 765,400 RGUs as of June 30, 2019 in 75 municipalities in the eastern, central, northern southern and western regions of Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.libertypr.com.

About Liberty Latin America

Liberty Latin America is a leading telecommunications company operating in over 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean under the consumer brands VTR, Flow, Liberty, Más Móvil, BTC, UTS and Cabletica. The communications and entertainment services that we offer to our residential and business customers in the region include digital video, broadband internet, telephony and mobile services. Our business products and services include enterprise-grade connectivity, data center, hosting and managed solutions, as well as information technology solutions with customers ranging from small and medium enterprises to international companies and governmental agencies. In addition, Liberty Latin America operates a subsea and terrestrial fiber optic cable network that connects over 40 markets in the region.

Liberty Latin America has three separate classes of common shares, which are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols "LILA" (Class A) and "LILAK" (Class C), and on the OTC link under the symbol "LILAB" (Class B). For more information, please visit www.lla.com.

DOW JONES NAMES LIBERTY GLOBAL AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE COMPANIES IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY

For the eighth consecutive year, Dow Jones has named Liberty Global as one of the world’s most sustainable companies operating in the media industry.

The company’s sustainability strategy has been rewarded with a listing in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) in both the World and North American categories.

Liberty Global subsidiary Telenet also appears in the World index and sector leader among the world’s most sustainable media companies for the seventh year.

Launched in 1999, the DJSI World Index represents the gold standard for corporate sustainability. Only the top-ranked companies within each industry are selected for inclusion in the DJSI Indices. The indices serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios and provide an effective engagement platform for companies who want to adopt sustainable best practices.

Liberty Global achieved an overall company score of 65 points, compared to an average score of 30 points for companies operating in the global media sector. More specifically, the company was rewarded for its performance in the areas of Materiality, Brand Management, Climate Strategy, Labor Practice Indicators, and Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy.

Liberty Global takes a proactive approach to sustainability by managing the impact of its business on the environment and society, as well as developing strategies to ensure this is ingrained in every aspect of the organization. Its Connected Purpose strategy leads the way by setting the company’s priorities in two areas:

• Digital Imagination: Creating digital solutions that answer society’s most pressing challenges;

• Responsible Connectivity: Delivering outstanding connectivity while running our business in a responsible and sustainable way.

Manuel Kohnstamm, Liberty Global’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, comments: “We aim to maximize the positive social impact of our products and services and work in line with global industry standards on sustainability. We’re proud that this long-standing commitment to sustainability has again been recognized by Dow Jones through our inclusion in these prestigious indices.”

In addition to its continued membership of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, Liberty Global is included in the FTSE4Good Index and Fortune 500 listing.

CenturyLink expands its content delivery network service capabilities

Triggered by increasing demand for over-the-top (OTT) content delivery in EMEA, technology leader CenturyLink, has expanded its content delivery network (CDN) service capabilities in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania and significantly increased capacity in existing core sites in Europe.

This investment demonstrates CenturyLink’s commitment to providing scalable, highly available and resilient content delivery solutions to OTT providers, broadcasters and gaming companies, allowing them to connect with new audiences in new markets across the globe.

“As demand continues to grow for OTT content in EMEA, increasing the reach of our CDN services is critical in enabling our customers to deliver the best possible user experience, including in difficult to serve locations around the globe,” said Rory McVicar, director of product management, internet and content delivery services, CenturyLink.

As part of this EMEA CDN service capabilities expansion, CenturyLink has added a new point of presence (PoP) in Zagreb, Croatia to enhance service performance in the country.

In addition, the company has augmented its CDN capacity in other key locations in EMEA that are experiencing the greatest growth in online traffic including the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Nordics.