2021 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD

Lumen retains #1 rank; Business MSOs Spectrum Enterprise, Comcast Business and Cox Business deliver majority of new U.S. Ethernet ports

BOSTON, MA, APRIL 27, 2022 – Vertical Systems Group announces that the following six companies achieved a position on the 2021 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD (in rank order based on retail port share as of December 31, 2021): Lumen, AT&T, Spectrum Enterprise, Verizon, Comcast Business and Cox Business. To qualify for a rank on this LEADERBOARD, network providers must have four percent (4%) or more of the U.S. retail Ethernet services market.

Six network providers attained a Challenge Tier citation (in alphabetical order): Altice USA, Cogent, Frontier, GTT, Windstream and Zayo. The Challenge Tier includes providers with between 1% and 4% share of the U.S. retail Ethernet market.

“U.S. Ethernet port growth stabilized in 2021, following stifled market demand throughout the previous year,” said Rick Malone, principal of Vertical Systems Group. “Our latest research shows how enterprise SD-WAN transformations are impacting the Ethernet market as customers increase installations of high speed DIA connectivity in their networks, and decrease use of legacy switched Ethernet services.”

U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD 2021

2021 U.S. Ethernet Market Analysis

  • Lumen ranks first on the 2021 U.S. Ethernet LEADERBOARD with the highest port share, a position the company has held continuously since 2017.
  • The three Business MSOs ranked on the U.S. Ethernet LEADERBOARD – Spectrum Enterprise, Comcast Business and Cox Business – had the most new installations of billable Ethernet customer ports in 2021.
  • Ethernet DIA is the predominant underlay solution for dedicated Internet access connectivity in U.S. Carrier Managed SD-WAN networks.
  • Windstream moved into the Challenge Tier from the Ethernet LEADERBOARD based on 2021 port share results.
  • Lumen and Verizon have attained MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet (CE) certification.
  • Spectrum Enterprise employs more than 1,200 MEF Carrier Ethernet Certified Professionals (MEF-CECPs), the highest number across all Ethernet providers.

The Market Player tier includes all providers with port share below 1%. Companies in the Market Player tier include the following providers (in alphabetical order): ACD.net, AireSpring, Alaska Communications, American Telesis, Armstrong Business Solutions, Arelion, Astound Business, bSimplify, Breezeline, BT Global Services, Centracom, Cincinnati Bell, Consolidated Communications, Crown Castle, Douglas Fast Net, DQE Communications, ExteNet Systems, Fatbeam, FiberLight, FirstLight, Fusion Connect, Global Cloud Xchange, Great Plains Communications, Hunter Communications, Logix Fiber Networks, FirstComm, LS Networks, MetTel, Midco, Momentum Telecom, NTT, Orange Business, Pilot Fiber, PS Lightwave, Segra, Shentel Business, Silver Star Telecom, Sparklight Business, Syringa, T-Mobile, Tata, TDS Telecom, Telstra, TPx, Transtelco, Unite Private Networks, Uniti, US Signal, Veracity Networks, WOW!Business, Ziply Fiber and other companies selling retail Ethernet services in the U.S. market.

Market shares are measured based on the number of billable retail customer ports installed. Vertical Systems Group’s Ethernet port share analysis includes six service segments based on what service providers are offering and enterprise customers are purchasing as follows: Ethernet DIA (Dedicated Internet Access), E-Access to IP/MPLS VPN, Ethernet Private Lines, Ethernet Virtual Private Lines, Metro LAN, and WAN VPLS.

@Ethernet is available now exclusively by subscription to an ENS Research Program. Research data includes the market share detail that powers the U.S. and Global Provider Carrier Ethernet Services LEADERBOARD results. Contact us for more information and pricing.