7 Stories You Missed: Master Agent M&A, Verizon Edge Partnership, Best Extreme Network Partners

Verizon expanded its edge computing strategy, and Extreme Networks honored top partners.

The channel newswire stayed hot as we edged toward Halloween weekend. Our editorial team covered a wide variety of stories, including a networking study, a VoIP providers’ personnel announcement and partner awards. We also covered master agent consolidation, as two Florida-based companies joined forces.

Read these seven mini-stories to learn about what happened this week.

7. WAN Study: Customers Rip Telcos for Security, Performance Issues

Customers are dissatisfied and confused.

That’s an overarching takeaway from Telia Carrier‘s latest study. The Enterprise Network Insights 2020 report found that carriers are not keeping up with security and flexibility demands. The study also revealed the customers tend to heavily factor sustainability into their purchasing decisions.

In other news, Telia Carrier expanded its partnership with Telarus into the United Kingdom and Canada.

See more conclusions from the Telia Carrier study,

6. Verizon Inks Partnership to Integrate Microsoft Azure for Operators

The service provider is expanding its mobile edge computing (MEC) practice with its Microsoft partnership.

As a result, Verizon is integrating its 5G network and services with the Microsoft Azure for Operators platform. Azure for Operators utilizes Microsoft’s acquisitions of Affirmed Networks and Metaswitch Networks to bring “more Microsoft technology to the operator’s edge.”

Verizon and Microsoft were already functioning as partners. But the expanded team-up gives much needed real-time communications to supply chain automation and applications.

Edward Gately has the scoop.

5. Top Gun 51 Profile: Andy Dignan on Refocusing Five9 Partner Priorities

Strategic partnerships have played a key role in Five9‘s growth.

So says Top Gun 51 winner Andy Dignan. Dignan serves as senior vice president of professional services, joining a number of Cisco alumni that are steering the company.

A panel of channel experts recently picked Dignan as one of the 51 most influential channel executives. He shared insights from his career and his experiences in the channel.

Read Dignan’s Q&A with Jeff Schwartz.

4. Verizon, CDW, Distributors Take Home Extreme Networks Awards

Jenne doubled up on its 2019 Americas Distributor of the Year award with Extreme Networks.

Extreme recognized Jenne and dozens of other partners at its annual partner conference. CDW, for example, won Americas SLED Partner of the Year. Verizon joined the list of partners.

Check out our coverage of the awards.

3. Akamai Technologies Preps for 5G Security with Asavie Acquisition

Akamai Technologies bought Asavie for an undisclosed amount.

Asavie’s security products will help Akamai’s carrier partners improve their IoT/wireless device security and management. Akamai provides a global content delivery network.

“Akamai and Asavie both sell into medium and large enterprises with mobile/cellular-specific carrier security offerings,” Akamai’s vice president of product management and operation said.

Read about the transaction.

2. CenturyLink, Spectrum Alums Join Broadvoice

The UCaaS provider added two regional channel managers.

Robert Sanchez and Joseph Galluzzi will serve the Mountain West and Northeast regions, respectively. The hires bring a wealth of experience in telecom and cable.

See the story.

1. Master Agent M&A: TCG Buys Global Systems Telecom

Telecom Consulting Group (TCG) showed its financial strength with a purchase.

TCG announced its completed purchase of fellow Florida master agent Global Systems Telecom Group. The deal also made sense considering that GST’s co-founders know TCG Partner Dan Pirigyi well.

“We’re proud to be able to carry on their legacy and welcome their partners into the TCG family,” Pirigyi said.

Learn about the implications of the deal.