Dallas company acquires two Springs telecom companies

Colorado Springs Business Journal, Oct 1, 2004 by Marylou Doehrman

Dallas-based Corban Networks Inc. acquired the stock and assets of two Colorado Springs-based telecommunications companies in September. Hill Branscomb has been a managing partner for the two local companies, Broadband on Demand and Optimum Network Services, and, with the acquisition, he will remain as a senior vice-president of Corban Networks Inc.

Optimum Network Services was founded in 1998 to provide switch and facility services for Telefone Calling Card Corp., which was acquired by Qwest. At the time of the Telefone Corp. disposition, Branscomb acquired the remaining interest in Optimum Network from his partners.

For the past two or three years, Optimum Network has provided facilities services for local companies and regional Internet service providers, Branscomb said. In 2004, he created Broadband on Demand to deploy WiMAX, (which Branscomb said is an upcoming standard of wireless service that incorporates fixed broadband and mobile computing.)

The two distinguishing points to WiMAX is that the service is designed to project 40 miles farther - beyond the access point, and it is a support for mobile computing devices like cell phones, Branscomb said. Intel has made a commitment to add WiMAX technology into its wide assortment of computing devices, he said. Intel's commitment will be the driving force behind this new standard.

The Corban Networks' acquisition occurred when Branscomb approached the company about utilizing its network, which spans 650 towers across the United States and primarily targets rural areas. This (rural America) is where the largest potential growth for telecommunications exists, he said. We established a carrier agreement with Corban Networks, but when they looked closer at our business strategy, the company decided to acquire us.

We are now a division of Corban Networks, and we'll be deploying a terminal facility for the network into our offices at 102 S. Tejon St. We'll become a main terminal and a support service for wireless Internet service providers, wholesale and last-mile upstream services.

Corban Networks Inc., which employs 100 people total, reorganized earlier this year. Branscomb said Corban Communications started about 10 years ago as a long-haul carrier. In 2001, Corban Communications operated at its peak with revenues of $52 million, he said. However, there has been a glut of long-haul carriers, so the company reorganized with a footprint to provide the middle and last-mile solution for wireless broadband in rural America. Our company will support rural America with the same metro services and prices found in major cities.

Ray Powers is the chief operating officer for Corban Networks. He said in a news release that the purchase of the stocks and assets of Broadband on Demand and Optimum Network Services will greatly enhance the value of Corban Networks. In addition to our present private- line transport business, our strategic-direction focus is on the delivery of last-mile wireless broadband.

Corban provides a unique network footprint that traverses 28 states with access to over 650 microwave towers and 60 terminal locations providing voice, data and video services throughout rural America. Broadband on Demand and Optimum Network Services bring the last-mile component essential to that deployment, and provide the operational business support so critical to success in these markets.