Alpheus Communications

As seen in the July 29, 2013  COMPTEL Connection

Alpheus Communications  Click here to visit their site.
Headquarters Location:   Houston, Texas
www.alpheus.net

Q: What does your company do and how long has it been in operation?
A: Alpheus Communications is a growing Texas-based company providing fiber-optic network and data center services to carriers and businesses. With extensive facilities in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley, Alpheus is the preferred regional and metro fiber transport provider for Texas.  Our network reaches more than 300 central offices/points of presence and more than 94,000 MetroE-qualified locations. Our six data centers throughout Texas support mission-critical applications with resilient SSAE 16-compliant platform. 

The company was founded in 2001, from a joint venture between El Paso Corporation and Genesis Park, LP.  In late 2011 Alpheus was acquired by Gores AC Holdings, LLC. 

Q: To what do you attribute your company’s success in the communications industry?
A: We are laser-focused on our customers and providing the highest quality network services.  Because we’re a smaller carrier, we do an exceptional job at taking care of our customers.  We are more nimble, agile and responsive than some or our larger competitors.  Most importantly, we give our customers personalized service that they often don’t find in this age of multi-layer IVRs and outsourced support from international call centers.  When you call Alpheus, you talk to a live person, an expert in our industry, sitting in Houston.  Our customers have a specific Customer Account Manager who they know by name. Our Network Operations Center is staffed by Level 2 techs so we can help our customers as quickly and directly as possible.

Q: What have been the biggest obstacles your company has faced in the marketplace?
A: I don’t think this is an obstacle, but it’s a challenge that we faced. We’re in a dynamic industry with active consolidation taking place. Consolidation has led to circuit grooming has negative churn impact. We’re also seeing pressure on pricing that’s concerning
 
Q: What do you see as your greatest challenges going forward?
A: One of the key concerns, not only for Alpheus but all competitive carriers, is access to reasonably-priced last mile ILEC facilities / copper retention which is being taking up by the FCC Technology Transitions Policy Taskforce.  We see the transition from TDM to IP technology, where LECs are contending that IP interconnection is not covered by ’96 Act for reasonable access, can hinder our ability to reach our customers.

Q: What have been some of your company’s most recent achievements (new customer wins, new service/product deployment, etc.)?
A: Alpheus was acquired by Gores AC Holdings, LLC in December of 2011. The company expanded in 2012 to serve enterprise businesses throughout Texas.

In late 2012, Alpheus acquired Houston-based Net Star Telecommunications, giving Net Star customers access to a broader array of networking and data center services.

We have been investing in fiber build outs in key markets and connections to major data centers.

See some of our recent announcements on our network expansion below:

We have been serving major telecom carriers since 2001. In 2012, we continued to add wholesale carrier customers. See carrier customer announcements below:


Q: Why is it important for your company to be a COMPTEL member?
A: COMPTEL provides an invaluable forum for companies in our industry to discuss, plan and rally around critical policy issues.  We leverage the COMPTEL PLUS Convention for face time with our customers and prospects, all in one venue, because everyone is there.