Dan Caruso, President of Zayo Group, is joined by Bill LaPerch, CEO of AboveNet and John Purcell, CEO of FiberTech on the first panel of Capacity's Metro Connect USA 2012. The CEO Interviews were focused on discussing successful business strategies to create profitable and scalable metro providers. These bandwidth infrastructure providers all share the same storyline that their companies are all profitable and growing.
After hearing details on their key market focus (particularly enterprise and media) and current business strategies, Moderator Dr. Judy Reed-Smith, CEO of Atlantic ACM, asked them to discuss their future plans and trends they see.
Dan stated that the industry trend is toward a natural evolution towards consolidation. He cites Zayo's recent acquisition of 360 as an example. He also joked that anyone in the audience who wants an exit
strategy and has assets to sell, to come see him.
Dan also stated that "when we win a customer deal, we expand our networks." Zayo focuses on emerging cities and locations and sees a lot of opportunity in expanding their services and products to these new PoPs.
Dr. Reed-Smith closed by asking what is it that you would change about the industry. Bill stated "nothing". We positioned ourselves well, we have a class A team. He's proud of where his company is and where AboveNet is going.
John said Bill is right, that the fundamentals are in place for continued growth. He cited less regulatory influence and a stronger economy as issues he would like us together to change. John noted it's not like some issues in healthcare and manufacturing where jobs are being lost. But truth is we are dependent on the economy.
Dan closed that he would increase the rate of bandwidth implementation,
and jokingly he added that he would restrict competitors' budget. He said it's shocking how telecom meltdown is still impacting on investors. Although we operate our businesses more responsibly now, we need to articulate these changes, notably sustainable revenue, to investors.
