TeliaSonera and Cogent have agreed to make another go of things with a renewed peering agreement.
A voicemail to Total Telecom on Friday from Cogent's head of marketing and communications Jeff Henriksen said that peering had been restored with an agreement that is "satisfactory to both parties."
The deal marks the end of a spat that began on 13 March, when U.S.-based Cogent closed Internet network connections between itself and Sweden's TeliaSonera.
To make matters worse, TeliaSonera's transiting agreement with Verizon also ended, meaning customers on Cogent's and Telia's respective networks couldn't connect with one another.
But now that's all in the past, is it likely we will ever find out what really caused the two of them to fall out in the first place?
Cogent claims Telia felt threatened by its expansion into Norway and Finland, while Telia said it was an attempt by Cogent to boss it around.
Either way it's likely that both parties will be eager to bury the hatchet, and with it, the chances of letting any further finger pointing continue.
Cogent, Telia tiff - And the winner is: No-one!
The ongoing de-peering row between Cogent and TeliaSonera looks set to continue for the time being.
It has all the hallmarks of a lover's tiff: both sides have said they would be only too happy to put aside their differences, but neither of them is big enough to admit they were in the wrong.
Who suffers in the meantime? That's right, the children, I mean, customers.
Since Cogent ended its peering agreement with TeliaSonera on March 13, customers of each Internet provider have been unable to access content on each other's networks, meaning the Internet has effectively been split in two.
"We have had contact with customers who have had problems and are dealing with them on a case by case basis," said Malin Frenning, president of TeliaSonera International Carrier.
That's great, but your customers didn't pay you to get into this mess.
It wasn't initially a problem, since traffic was being routed via TeliaSonera's connections with Verizon, but even they have now been closed off.
TeliaSonera explained Wednesday that its transiting agreement with Verizon has also come to an end, which wouldn't have been a problem if Cogent hadn't de-peered with them.
Just to clarify – with peering agreements neither party pays the other, and in transiting agreements, one solicits connectivity from the other.
Cogent CEO Dave Schaeffer suggested that TeliaSonera feels threatened by the U.S. Internet provider's recent expansion into Norway and Finland; but TeliaSonera's Frenning claims this has nothing to do with it.
What's more, it seems that the two parties are barely on speaking terms.
"We don't think it's constructive to communicate through the press, but we do not agree with Cogent's portrayal of the event," commented Frenning, to Total Telecom Wednesday.
So, while all this toing and froing goes on, with little constructive progress being made, please: spare a thought for the children.
It has all the hallmarks of a lover's tiff: both sides have said they would be only too happy to put aside their differences, but neither of them is big enough to admit they were in the wrong.
Who suffers in the meantime? That's right, the children, I mean, customers.
Since Cogent ended its peering agreement with TeliaSonera on March 13, customers of each Internet provider have been unable to access content on each other's networks, meaning the Internet has effectively been split in two.
"We have had contact with customers who have had problems and are dealing with them on a case by case basis," said Malin Frenning, president of TeliaSonera International Carrier.
That's great, but your customers didn't pay you to get into this mess.
It wasn't initially a problem, since traffic was being routed via TeliaSonera's connections with Verizon, but even they have now been closed off.
TeliaSonera explained Wednesday that its transiting agreement with Verizon has also come to an end, which wouldn't have been a problem if Cogent hadn't de-peered with them.
Just to clarify – with peering agreements neither party pays the other, and in transiting agreements, one solicits connectivity from the other.
Cogent CEO Dave Schaeffer suggested that TeliaSonera feels threatened by the U.S. Internet provider's recent expansion into Norway and Finland; but TeliaSonera's Frenning claims this has nothing to do with it.
What's more, it seems that the two parties are barely on speaking terms.
"We don't think it's constructive to communicate through the press, but we do not agree with Cogent's portrayal of the event," commented Frenning, to Total Telecom Wednesday.
So, while all this toing and froing goes on, with little constructive progress being made, please: spare a thought for the children.
3 Italia attracts would-be buyers
Hutchison Whampoa chairman Li Ka-shing revealed today that he is in talks with "many" interested parties over the acquisition of 3 Italia.
Not surprisingly, the Hong Kong firm's top man declined to elaborate, leaving the industry to speculate on the identities of the would-be buyers.
Once source hinted to us that Telefonica could be in the frame, since the Spanish telco could integrate Hutchison's various European 3G businesses into O2 without significant overlap. But Li Ka-shing's announcement seems to refer solely to 3 Italia, and it is in Italy where Telefonica already has a presence through its stake in TIM parent Telecom Italia.
Some have suggested a private equity deal could be on the cards, although private equity investment in telecoms seems to have dried up of late.
We predict Italian broadband operator Fastweb is likely to be in the frame, since it has recently brokered an MVNO deal with 3 Italia.
There are many more options. Why not post a comment or drop us a line and share your views? For more information on the 3 Italia talks and Hutchison's 2007 results announcement that was also published today, take a look on Total Telecom, where all news is now free for seven days after publication.
Not surprisingly, the Hong Kong firm's top man declined to elaborate, leaving the industry to speculate on the identities of the would-be buyers.
Once source hinted to us that Telefonica could be in the frame, since the Spanish telco could integrate Hutchison's various European 3G businesses into O2 without significant overlap. But Li Ka-shing's announcement seems to refer solely to 3 Italia, and it is in Italy where Telefonica already has a presence through its stake in TIM parent Telecom Italia.
Some have suggested a private equity deal could be on the cards, although private equity investment in telecoms seems to have dried up of late.
We predict Italian broadband operator Fastweb is likely to be in the frame, since it has recently brokered an MVNO deal with 3 Italia.
There are many more options. Why not post a comment or drop us a line and share your views? For more information on the 3 Italia talks and Hutchison's 2007 results announcement that was also published today, take a look on Total Telecom, where all news is now free for seven days after publication.
Then there were four
Promotion of the 2008 World Communication Awards programme will kick off in a few days and already four of the sponsors are confirmed.
We greatly appreciate the support of Silver sponsors COLT and NTT Communications, and category sponsors Orange and TeliaSonera.
2008 is a milestone for us, ten years of recognising the best in telecoms. We anticipate more entries and more attendees for the gala, so don't miss out on the opportunity to get involved.
Find out more on this dedicated page on the Total Telecom website or watch out for the launch of the World Communication Awards dedicated website, www.worldcommsawards.com early in April.
We greatly appreciate the support of Silver sponsors COLT and NTT Communications, and category sponsors Orange and TeliaSonera.
2008 is a milestone for us, ten years of recognising the best in telecoms. We anticipate more entries and more attendees for the gala, so don't miss out on the opportunity to get involved.
Find out more on this dedicated page on the Total Telecom website or watch out for the launch of the World Communication Awards dedicated website, www.worldcommsawards.com early in April.
Voda-drone
You know what it's like when you end up sitting in a conference session next to someone who just won't shut up. Infuriating, to say the least.
Sitting in front of some particularly noisy delegates at the opening session of this year's IPTV World Forum in London today nearly drove me to conference-rage.
One self-important attendee, representing Vodafone no less, took it upon himself to carry on a constant critique of every single speaker to a couple of his colleagues at the show this morning, and it's fair to say he was not impressed with any of the presentations.
He accused Nokia Siemens Networks' Thomas Werner of "utter nonsense, he's talking cr*p", droned on throughout a presentation from Neuf Cegetel's Nicolas Bry, picked holes in Eugene Sarmiento from Ericsson and when it came to the panel session proclaimed "this is not going to be interesting"… before the speakers had even made their way to the stage.
All of which leads me to the conclusion that while etiquette lessons wouldn't go amiss at Vodafone, the mobile operator clearly knows all there is to know about IPTV and will be showing the rest of the world exactly how it's done in the near future.
More on IPTV World Forum 2008 on Total Telecom Wednesday-Friday.
Sitting in front of some particularly noisy delegates at the opening session of this year's IPTV World Forum in London today nearly drove me to conference-rage.
One self-important attendee, representing Vodafone no less, took it upon himself to carry on a constant critique of every single speaker to a couple of his colleagues at the show this morning, and it's fair to say he was not impressed with any of the presentations.
He accused Nokia Siemens Networks' Thomas Werner of "utter nonsense, he's talking cr*p", droned on throughout a presentation from Neuf Cegetel's Nicolas Bry, picked holes in Eugene Sarmiento from Ericsson and when it came to the panel session proclaimed "this is not going to be interesting"… before the speakers had even made their way to the stage.
All of which leads me to the conclusion that while etiquette lessons wouldn't go amiss at Vodafone, the mobile operator clearly knows all there is to know about IPTV and will be showing the rest of the world exactly how it's done in the near future.
More on IPTV World Forum 2008 on Total Telecom Wednesday-Friday.
Parenting advice from... Cable & Wireless!?!
Cable & Wireless' John Pluthero has just returned from a tour of the company's operations in the Caribbean, where he spent some time examining the transition from monopoly incumbent to competitive telecoms player for the telco's various businesses in the region.
"No incumbent is every ready for liberalisation," he told attendees at the U.K.-based operator's analyst and investor day in London on Tuesday.
"Your parent has just turned round and said 'we don't love you anymore'. Don't try it on your kids, by the way!"
Thanks for the tip, John.
For now at least, Cable & Wireless is retaining the guardianship of its Caribbean "children" though, despite recent rumours that a demerger of the company's international operations is on the cards. At the investor day, Pluthero outlined plans to help the various international operations make the transition into competitive players by devolving more power to the local CEOs.
More details on Total Telecom later today.
"No incumbent is every ready for liberalisation," he told attendees at the U.K.-based operator's analyst and investor day in London on Tuesday.
"Your parent has just turned round and said 'we don't love you anymore'. Don't try it on your kids, by the way!"
Thanks for the tip, John.
For now at least, Cable & Wireless is retaining the guardianship of its Caribbean "children" though, despite recent rumours that a demerger of the company's international operations is on the cards. At the investor day, Pluthero outlined plans to help the various international operations make the transition into competitive players by devolving more power to the local CEOs.
More details on Total Telecom later today.
Happy Brirthday to 3!
How the time has flown. Hutchison's 3 UK, the U.K.'s first W-CDMA network operator, is five years old today!
3 remains the smallest of the U.K.'s five mobile network operators, but, after a shaky start, has established itself as a credible player with a customer base believed to be well in excess of 3 million.
And 3's fifth birthday is also cause for celebration for Total Telecom magazine, which launched in March 2003. Look out for the March 2008 edition - issue 59 - out now.
3 remains the smallest of the U.K.'s five mobile network operators, but, after a shaky start, has established itself as a credible player with a customer base believed to be well in excess of 3 million.
And 3's fifth birthday is also cause for celebration for Total Telecom magazine, which launched in March 2003. Look out for the March 2008 edition - issue 59 - out now.
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