New IDC MarketScape Provides a Vendor Assessment of Worldwide Advanced Enterprise WAN Data Service Providers for 2015

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. September 14, 2015 – International Data Corporation (IDC) has published a new vendor assessment profiling ten worldwide advanced enterprise WAN data service providers. The IDC MarketScape report positioned AT&T, BT Global Services, NTT Communications, Orange Business Services, and Verizon as "Leaders" in the space for 2015. The five other providers profiled – CenturyLink, Level 3, Tata Communications, Telefonica, and Vodafone Group Enterprise – were identified as "Major Players". The IDC MarketScape report utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology that produces a definitive assessment of each vendor's current market capabilities as well as strategies for competing in the future.

This IDC MarketScape is the industry’s first evaluation of global communications service providers (CSPs) in terms of advanced enterprise WAN data services such as Ethernet and MPLS VPN and newer services such as Enterprise Cloud Connect and Data Center interconnect services.

"Global telecom service providers continue to expand WAN data network capacity and support more IP-and Ethernet based services, yet the growing enterprise use of SaaS and IaaS cloud services is causing a shift in the market for more innovative, flexible, and on-demand WAN data services that are application aware," said Nav Chander, Research Manager, Enterprise Telecom.

This MarketScape evaluates how CSPs are adopting new network virtualization SDN and NFV technology solutions to evolve existing physical WAN data services to offer software-defined cloud connect choices and flexible on-demand and virtualized alternatives to meet the global networking requirements of mid-to large size enterprises. "While no one carrier aspires to be the sole enterprise WAN provider, most can provide excellent regional coverage, and worldwide coverage with enhanced partnership NNIs that have become the norm," Chander added.

Additional insights from the report include the following:

• This research provides an evaluation of global telecom service provider's strategies to implement NFV and SDN technologies for business services.
• All of the operators in the Leaders category provide excellent global coverage.
• There is growing enterprise demand and interest for DCI and cloud connect services.

The IDC study, IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Advanced Enterprise WAN Data Service Provider 2015 Vendor Assessment (IDC #258717), presents a vendor assessment of the 2015 advanced enterprise WAN data services market using the IDC MarketScape model. This assessment covers ten key telecom service providers (SPs) on a worldwide basis. The assessment is based on current and future capabilities with a view of presenting the most comprehensive analysis of enterprise WAN and WAN-cloud connect and future virtualized WAN data communication requirements.

About IDC MarketScape

IDC MarketScape criteria selection, weightings, and vendor scores represent well-researched IDC judgment about the market and specific vendors. IDC analysts tailor the range of standard characteristics by which vendors are measured through structured discussions, surveys, and interviews with market leaders, participants, and end users. Market weightings are based on user interviews, buyer surveys, and the input of a review board of IDC experts in each market. IDC analysts base individual vendor scores, and ultimately vendor positions on the IDC MarketScape, on detailed surveys and interviews with the vendors, publicly available information, and end-user experiences in an effort to provide an accurate and consistent assessment of each vendor's characteristics, behavior, and capability.