RE: Trying to find a connectivity provider that wont go under (was RE: CAIS/Ardent and now Network Access Solutions)

["Tim McKee" <trm3 () nuvox net>]

Agreed.  As the architect for a large regional we strive to have full
transit with several large providers (and peer with folks when possible) so
that a single large provider unexpectedly 'biting the dust' or even
experiencing backbone problems won't destroy our network.  {Please note:
this is not a sales plug, we aren't anywhere in the MI area.}

And yes, the smaller local and regional providers must look at margins and
cash flow constantly.  They can't afford to pull the 'tricks' that are
getting the big guys in so much trouble.  My one caveat is to insure that
the smaller guy is fully multihomed with at least two different upstreams.

Tim

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nanog () merit edu [mailto:owner-nanog () merit edu]On Behalf Of
Richard A Steenbergen
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 19:49
To: Scott Granados
Cc: John Palmer; nanog () nanog org
Subject: Re: Trying to find a connectivity provider that wont go under
(was RE: CAIS/Ardent and now Network Access Solutions)



On Thu, May 30, 2002 at 02:53:02PM -0700, Scott Granados wrote:
> You either have to pull circuits to the carrier you want or settle for
> someone local much smaller and in many cases much more likely to fail.

Nonsense. Small providers are the ones who are financially connected to
reality, and thus more likely to make money (since the owners generally
want to keep paying the bills) and remain in business.

The issue with small providers is, you don't always know what you are
going to get. You could end up with someone that doesn't have much clue
about providing good service simply because they are inexperienced. On the
other hand, you could find someone who is very experienced but who wants
to work for themselves, or on a project where they can have a significant
impract. Being small could very easily mean they are sensible, nimble, and
not burdoned with silly bureaucracy.

That said, this has very little place on NANOG.

--
Richard A Steenbergen <ras () e-gerbil net>       http://www.e-gerbil.net/ras
PGP Key ID: 0x138EA177  (67 29 D7 BC E8 18 3E DA  B2 46 B3 D8 14 36 FE B6)