Data Center POST Interview with Carl Roberts, CCO at Epsilon
Carl Roberts is Chief Commercial Officer at Epsilon , a privately owned global communications service provider. Carl has over 30 years of experience working in the international information and communications technology industry and has a proven track record in international marketing and sales, business management, corporate strategy and development and beyond. Before joining the team at Epsilon, Carl worked at his own consultancy company (Hadaara Consulting) after having held several senior executive positions at an array of companies including Verizon, MCI, WorldCom Global One and IBM.
Data Center POST recently had a chance to chat with Carl about Epsilon’s upcoming workshops and how the company moves to accommodate the future of global networking.
Data Center POST (DCP) Question: Tell us about your expansion into North America and the challenges that you are addressing for your customers right now.
Epsilon, Carl Roberts (E-CR) Answer: Across North America, we saw a need for a new connectivity model. The Cloud is driving disruption and North American service providers need to be prepared to move faster to serve Cloud, Content and new applications and services.
At the beginning of 2017, we saw the establishment of our first colocation facilities in the US. In the months following, with the launch of Infiny by Epsilon on-demand connectivity platform, we quickly expanded our services by delivering Cloud-centric Networking to more partners and customers across North America.
Today, we are delivering 100G services on-demand to prepare our partners for the future of networking, bringing the characteristics of Cloud into the connectivity infrastructure with a simple yet powerful platform.
DCP Q: How do you see your industry evolving in the next 12 -24 months?
E-CR A: The global networking industry is entering an era of extreme change that is reshaping how Service Providers operate and deliver connectivity solutions. Old models need to be replaced and innovation must accelerate the delivery of connectivity solutions.
Networks today are impeding innovation rather than enabling it. With the explosion of Cloud, Real-Time Communications (RTC), Machine to Machine Communications (M2M) and the Internet of Things (IoT), network service demands are going beyond what is currently being offered by the traditional networking model.
The companies that have no fear of innovations like DevOps or on-demand connectivity and plan to build and adapt beyond legacy models and mindsets are the companies that will deliver the highest level of customer service and satisfaction.
As a result of this industry evolving, companies that generate new and innovative ideas will be asking more and more from their network providers. They want consistent and high-performance networks that will enable them to not just roll out new apps and services but to also ensure that they are delivering an exceptional user experience.
DCP Q: What will attendees of your Global Fabric workshops learn?
E-CR A: Our Global Fabric events are a testament to our commitment to innovation, exemplifying our vision of making connectivity simple. Together with partners who share our vision, we are bringing Global Fabric to North America.
Our workshops will explore the different opportunities for inspiring networking innovations, from Cloud adoption to Software Defined Networking (SDN) models.
We will be sharing our approach and vision for the reinvention of the marketplace with other industry leaders while providing some tips and tricks for effective business development.
It’s an exciting opportunity for people in the industry to share their unique perspectives on the evolution of this constantly changing networking market.
DCP Q: Explain how on-demand connectivity is enabling growth and innovation for enterprises?
E-CR A: On-demand connectivity platforms deliver Cloud-centric Networking that is elastic, fluid and intelligent, enabling Cloud, IoT, Big Data and a further range of future technologies.
It enables service providers to move faster to serve new demand and supports the deployment of innovative services. When service providers connect the Cloud at the click-of-a-button, they can rapidly turn up new services and scale them to drive growth.
We deliver on-demand connectivity and self-service platforms that simplify the procuring and managing of network services and make it easy for Service Providers to connect around the globe.
DCP Q: What new developments will your North American customers expect to see from Epsilon in the near future?
E-CR A: From New York, I can see the potential to grow in hubs from Miami to Seattle and everywhere in between. There are opportunities in dense Cloud connectivity markets but also in developing a base of regional and smaller interconnect markets such as St Louis, Houston and maybe even Toronto or Moncton, New Brunswick.
I also see tremendous opportunities in automation, APIs and really reimagining what a connectivity provider can be. That’s what is exciting. The explosion of Cloud, Big Data and IoT demands the support of flexible, agile and efficient networks that go beyond what is being offered by legacy providers today.
Epsilon has made a long-term commitment to the North American market and we see it as a natural fit for our business and our customers. We look forward to growing with our customers and supporting them with local, regional and global Cloud-centric Networking.
