Top News: AT&T 5G Goes Nationwide as Avaya Distributor Race Heats up in Canada

Which master agent/distributor is best equipped to sell Avaya Cloud Office in Canada?

Our editorial team asked this question in our latest week of channel news. Master agents and distributors featured prominently on our coverage, as PlanetOne and TCG both introduced new hires. We also covered a CCaaS funding announcement, an SD-WAN partnership and a 5G milestone.

Scroll through the seven mini-stories below to see what you missed.

7. Granite Telecommunications Boosts VeloCloud SD-WAN Customer Base with Wanify Deal

Granite will provided managed SD-WAN for Wanify.

The two companies announced an expanded partnership earlier this week. As a result, Granite will take over managed network services for Wanify’s enterprise and SMB customers while the MSP will focus on customer acquisition.

Learn about the implications of the deal.

6. PlanetOne Taps Masergy Veteran to Executive Team, Vows More Investment

PlanetOne’s Chris Werpy

The Arizona-based technology services distributor is building its infrastructure while rivals are cutting back, according to CEO Ted Schuman.

PlanetOne on Thursday announced that Chris Werpy, a longtime Masergy exec, will join the company as chief operating officer. Werpy will help the executive team form its vision for the years ahead. He praised PlanetOne’s culture and business model in an interview with us.

Read what Werpy had to say about the industry.

5. Diversity a Big Priority for Twilio’s First Chief Information Officer

Michelle Grover will oversee Twilio’s technology systems and processes.

The former SAP Concur executive said she hopes to help Twilio expand its infrastructure. She also pointed to the company’s shifting customer demographic.

Twilio’s Michelle Grover

“The company has the goal to have an employee base that consists of 50% of women and 30% underrepresented populations by 2023,” Grover said. “Working to ensure that these numbers are reflected within leadership roles as well is a top priority for me.”

Learn more about Grover.

4. TCG Earns Comcast Business Milestone, Announces New Hires, Suppliers

Telecom Consulting Group (TCG) has expanded its staff and supplier count this summer.

The Florida-based company recently hired a national channel manger to work out of Atlanta. Also new to TCG are multiple vendors, including Peerless Network and Halo Global.

We compiled the latest TCG updates in an article.

3. Talkdesk’s Big Funding Round Helps Take On Five9, 8×8, Nice InContact, More

Tack on another $143 million to Talkdesk’s funding tab.

The contact-center-as-a service company got the Series C funding round from a coalition of investors. Jon Heaps, Talkdesk’s channel chief, said the money would go to R&D, as well as go-to-market strategies.

“This new funding will allow Talkdesk to extend its competitive advantage through innovation by an increased focus on research and development, and expanding its reach into the Fortune 500,” Heaps said.

Edward Gately has the scoop.

2. Showdown!: Synnex, Telarus Face Off with Avaya Cloud Office in Canada

Only two distributors are selling Avaya’s new UCaaS solution in the Great White North.

The vendor has agreements in place with Synnex and Telarus. Both have shifted significantly in the last few years to become a more attractive candidate for Avaya. Telarus, for example, last year expanded its operations into Canada. Synnex, on the other hand, acquired Westcon-Comstor and in doing so bolstered its telephony and communications practices.

Avaya launched Cloud Office through a partnership with RingCentral.

Read Jeffrey Schwartz’s article, in which he weighs the pros and cons of each Avaya distributor.

1. AT&T: Time for Partners to ‘Dig In’ to 5G

Ma Bell’s 5G network now stretches “nationwide,” according to the FCC’s definition.

The milestone puts AT&T alongside T-Mobile. Both companies now reach more than 200 million people with their 5G network. Chris Roy, vice president of AT&T Partner Exchange, urged partners partners to build their 5G expertise.

“Now is the time for channel partners to dig in and get on board with the technology,” Roy said.

Learn about AT&T’s 5G update.