The marketplace in the communication sector is a complex environment populated by hundreds of companies operating locally, nationally and globally. And as communications protocols move from circuit-switched Time-division Multiplexing (TDM) to all IP for voice, there have been a lot of merger and acquisitions (M&A) taking place in the sector. The M&A is not only taking place between companies in densely populated urban areas, but also rural operators. The acquisition of ANZ Communications, the parent company of ANPI, by Onvoy is the latest example of this trend.
Since the FCC has mandated even rural local exchange carriers (RLECs) have to transition from TDM to IP for voice, which they will also eventually have to changeover to broadband, RLECs have to sell or merge. For Onvoy, a Communications Enabler offering voice, messaging and mobility solutions with a nationwide carrier-grade network, this acquisition is part of a buying spree that includes Broadvox, Vitelity and Layered Comms. This has made the company the largest competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) in the U.S.
“Onvoy was founded by RLECs with a mission and vision similar to the founders of ANPI, so we understand and appreciate our relationship with the RLEC carriers. The RLECs have demonstrated resiliency through challenging times and we believe their commitment to excellent customer service provides an accelerant to the transformational opportunities enabled by the combined Onvoy and ANPI platforms,” said Fritz Hendricks, Onvoy CEO.
So what is Onvoy getting from ANPI? First it gets an established operator with a rural presence. As a partner to RLECs, ANPI has built its business by offering affordable long-distance services to the operators in rural areas. But the company has also expanded its portfolio to include enablement services so the operators could start offering new generation services to increase their revenue while lowering costs. This includes long distance, tandem, SS7, voice peering and UCaaS/End Office replacement.
Secondly, Onvoy can expand its network reach even further by bringing together urban and rural areas together for a truly national presence. This will give the company the ability to provide its carrier customers the opportunity to deliver new services to rural areas, while still partnering with the RLECs that are already established.
Onvoy offers service providers high value communications solutions to all the major wireless and interexchange carriers, as well as hundreds of CLECs, RLECs and VoIP providers with a facility-based voice and messaging network. Some of the services include, voice and toll-free origination services, messaging, mobility, portals and APIs and termination services.
Edited by
Alicia Young
