
ATLANTIC-ACM Announces 2025 U.S. Business Connectivity Service Provider Excellence Awards
ATLANTIC-ACM Announces 2025 U.S. Business Connectivity Service Provider Excellence Awards
ATLANTIC-ACM introduced the Business Connectivity Report Card survey in 2006 to give service providers a truly impartial customer experience benchmarking data along with insights on shifting purchase dynamics and customer buying priorities.
The wireline business services landscape continues to transform in response to evolving customer expectations and rapid technological progress. For both enterprise and SMB customers, the top purchasing priorities remain consistent: Network Performance, Network Security, Price, and Customer Service. Interest in security offerings continues to accelerate, with widespread adoption of both on-premises security hardware and cloud-based protection platforms. There is a noticeable migration of spending away from traditional services such as Legacy Voice and MPLS, with customers favoring more scalable, cost-efficient options like Wavelength services, Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), Broadband, Ethernet, VoIP, and a growing range of Managed Services
ATLANTIC-ACM gives awards across two carrier groups, Large Service Providers and Midsized Service Providers, which are segmented based on total estimated wireline revenue. ATLANTIC-ACM recognizes the top Large Service Providers and Midsized Providers in each major operational category, as well as the highest combined average for quality and price ratings (value) in data and voice.
The 2025 winners for Large Providers are:
Verizon: Brand, Sales Reps, Service Delivery, Network Performance, Customer Service, Billing (Tied with Comcast)
AT&T: Voice Value, Data Value (Tied with Spectrum)
Spectrum Enterprise: Data Value (Tied with AT&T)
Comcast Business: Billing (Tied with Verizon)
The 2025 winners for Mid-Sized Providers are:
Crown Castle: Brand, Network Performance, Billing
Cogent: Sales Reps, Service Delivery, Customer Service, Data Value
RingCentral: Voice Value
About ATLANTIC-ACM
ATLANTIC-ACM is a leading strategic advisory and market diligence consulting firm to the telecom and technology sectors, helping operators and investors navigate changing market dynamics, economies, and technologies since 1991. For more information, visit ATLANTIC-ACM's website at http://www.atlantic-acm.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Verizon scrambles to keep angry customers after cutting discounts
Last week, Verizon (VZ) ignited uproar from customers after it pulled the plug on several beloved discounts at a time when phone bills are creeping up in price. Several Verizon customers took to social media to flag that they received emails from the phone carrier warning them that their loyalty discounts will be removed from their accounts next month. These discounts, which usually ranged between $10 and $40, were renewable and were provided to keep customers from switching providers. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Many customers were livid about the change; some even threatened to cut ties with the company. It is no surprise that customers were upset, since higher prices for phone services are becoming a growing reality. Related: Verizon revokes generous offers, angering customers According to a recent report from Doxo, the average amount of money 94% of Americans spent on phone bills per month last year is $121, a 2% increase from what they spent monthly in 2023. The move from Verizon comes after it issued several price hikes for its phone plans. In March last year, Verizon increased the prices of its 5G Start, 5G Play More, 5G Get More, and 5G Do More plans by an extra $4 a month. Then, in January this year, it raised the monthly prices for myPlan and New Verizon Plan accounts due to "rising operational costs." Image source: Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images Amid the backlash over the upcoming removal of loyalty discounts, Verizon customers recently took to social media to flag that the company is trying to make amends. According to a recent Reddit post, a Verizon customer revealed that the company randomly sent them a pop-up through the My Verizon app offering them $20 off per phone line for 12 months. "Just got a pop up from my Verizon app saying for a limited time every active phone line on your account is eligible for a $20/mo discount for 12 months," wrote the customer in the post. "Tap to reach a rep. Too bad I'll be leaving very soon." Related: Verizon discontinues free customer perk from phone plans In the comment section under the post, other Verizon customers said that they received the same offer after they requested a transfer pin (a code given to customers planning to leave and join another phone carrier) through the My Verizon app. "I got offered $20 per month for 1 year as I am trying to port my number away. Still leaving though," wrote one customer in the comment section. "I got that same offer 2 minutes after I requested a transfer pin. We're still leaving because (of) various reasons, including getting first responder speed/discount, but it may be a tactic for people to try as it definitely was for them trying to keep our service," wrote another customer. The influx of customers planning to leave the company comes after a Reddit post earlier this month sparked speculation that Verizon plans to increase prices and remove several discounts on Sept. 1. It stated that Verizon was planning to raise its device activation fees from $35 to $40, which the company later confirmed on its website. However, the change appears to be immediate. The post also said that the phone carrier will be increasing the monthly price of its tablet plan by $5. Some customers have flagged on social media that they recently received an email about this change. More Telecom News: Verizon's push to make switching harder for customers hits a snagT-Mobile announces generous offer for conflicted customersAmazon pulls the plug on a free service for customers In addition, Verizon's monthly Administrative and Telco Recovery fee will allegedly increase from $3.50 to $3.78 per line for voice customers and from $1.60 to $3.97 per line for customers with data-only plans. To add fuel to the fire, Verizon also announced a week ago that customers on its 5G Get More and 5G Play More plans will no longer have access to free Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass subscriptions, starting Sept. 22. The last thing Verizon needs is more customers pulling the plug on phone service. In the second quarter of this year, Verizon lost about 51,000 postpaid phone customers. Also, its wireless postpaid phone churn (the number of customers who cut phone service) remained flat at 0.9% compared to the previous quarter. During an earnings call on July 21, Verizon Chief Financial Officer Tony Skiadas said that the company is doubling down on improving its customers' "loyalty and retention" by providing them with more personalized support and value. "We have taken a series of actions to address our elevated churn," said Skiadas. "On June 24th, we launched initiatives designed to improve the customer experience, including leveraging AI for more personalized support. In addition, we continue to enhance our value proposition and build customer loyalty through the best value guarantee. We provide exclusive access to the best events and experiences, and our Refresh app helps customers maximize the value of their plans." Related: T-Mobile boots customers off yearslong offers without asking The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.


Android Authority
10 hours ago
- Android Authority
I tried T Sat side by side with Verizon's Skylo and neither worked as well as I'd hoped
Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority Recently, T Satellite service officially became available for both existing T-Mobile customers and those on other networks that want satellite backup for emergencies. I have since signed up for the service myself and had the opportunity to field test it alongside a Galaxy S25 Edge that is capable of utilizing Skylo satellites via Verizon's network. As someone who lives smack dab in rural America, there are plenty of dead spots within a 20-35 minute drive from me. I picked a few different spots that I knew for a fact had legitimate dead spots that would work well for testing purposes. I brought along my own personal Galaxy S24 with T Satellite installed as well as the aforementioned Edge that was on loan in order to test Skylo side-by-side. The end result was an experience that was a bit more disappointing than I had expected, if I'm being honest. Do you find satellite phone backup service a worthwhile addition? 0 votes Yes, in theory but it sounds like it needs work. NaN % Yes, it is still helpful in extremely dead zones. NaN % No, I don't think it's that useful. NaN % Other (Tell us in the comments) NaN % Getting a signal is much harder than I thought it would be It didn't take long to find a location with poor signal, but that wasn't enough as it turned out. Both satellite backup systems require absolutely zero cellular signal before prompting a satellite connection. This means even if my phone couldn't call, text, or use data, it still was attempting to connect to the cellular network due to the presence of a very faint signal. To truly hit zero, I had to venture deep into the nearby forest until I found a spot far from towers but still clear enough for line-of-sight. The trouble was that both phones kept bouncing between no service and a cellular signal too weak to use, which meant neither stayed disconnected long enough to trigger satellite mode very easily. I got Skylo to connect first, though not without some work After parking my car, I started walking around, and within a few minutes, my Skylo-compatible device prompted me to connect to the satellite. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. While T Sat automatically connects like any standard cellular network (in theory), Skylo requires line-of-sight. That's when I got to play the fun game of 'move your phone left, right, left again, now spin around.' It took about five more minutes of moving around and praying desperately to the mobile gods for it to finally connect. It finally did! By then, I'd spent roughly 15 minutes or more trying to send one message in total. When I finally did send the message, I made sure to note the time and told my receiver to do the same on their end. It took another ten minutes or so before the message arrived. From the time I parked til the time I successfully got a single message out took about a total of roughly 30 minutes. In a real emergency, like being lost in the woods, that might be enough to cut it — but things could get dicey if I were injured or unable to reach a true dead spot. T Sat was both a better and worse experience The whole time I was searching for a Skylo connection, I also kept my other device out looking for Starlink access. Verizon's network eventually dropped out consistently enough to make a connection, but T-Mobile clung stubbornly to weak coverage. I walked another ten minutes without luck, returned to the car, and drove deeper into the area. Driving around 5 mph, I watched for the network to drop entirely. Finally finding a truly dead spot, I got out to test. At this point, my phone connected to the T Sat network far more easily than Skylo. It prompted me to connect, I confirmed, and it connected without any special moves. A few messages were sent successfully with only a slight delay of a few minutes. Both failed until they didn't, but which is better? Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Ultimately, connecting initially was slightly easier with Verizon, though calibrating Skylo wasn't exactly smooth. Being in the woods surely didn't help, yet the line-of-sight was fairly clear. And let's face it, people needing emergency help are more likely to be in a wooded or high-elevation area than they would be in a large open cornfield or something. For T-Mobile, I found getting connected to Starlink was much harder because the cellular network clung to its weak connection longer. Let's not mistake this for meaning T-Mobile's network was stronger in the area, as both phones basically got dial-up-like speeds at best when I was in the wooded area. Once connected, I found Starlink's user experience was definitely the friendlier one, but I wasn't exactly impressed by either. Still, I walked away from the experience with a few takeaways: No satellite service is perfect yet. It depends heavily on your location and the quality of network signals. Starlink might excel in some areas, Skylo in others. It depends heavily on your location and the quality of network signals. Starlink might excel in some areas, Skylo in others. Starlink has more potential. I'd prefer T-Mobile's solution if it could automatically switch to satellite once the cellular connection becomes unusable, even if there's still a faint signal. I'd prefer T-Mobile's solution if it could automatically switch to satellite once the cellular connection becomes unusable, even if there's still a faint signal. Skylo has the advantage of being free. While T Sat might technically be superior, the $10-$15 monthly fee isn't worth it to me. However, this is moot if your high-end T-Mobile plan includes it for free. Just like cellular coverage, there's no simple answer. Every US region varies greatly regarding network infrastructure and congestion. At this stage, I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to pay for it unless you can confirm you'll regularly be in an area with zero coverage that will work with either service. Simply put, it's too unpredictable right now as to whether or not you'll even be able to use it. What if you go off-grid regularly but not in the same consistent area? You'd likely be better off with something more stable that can be used on demand over this. One possibility is to consider traditional satellite phone service through a hotspot device like the Iridium Go. Follow


Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
T-Mobile announces free perks for internet customers
T-Mobile (TMUS) recently saw a spike in new broadband customers, as many have fled from cable companies that have been gradually increasing prices for internet services over the past year. A recent CNET survey found that 63% of U.S. adults saw the monthly price of their home internet service increase last year. On average, they paid $195 more for internet in 2024 than in 2023. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter As consumers battle inflation and higher costs of living, many have explored fixed wireless access internet service, which T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T offer. This service provides internet access to remote or underserved areas at a price that's usually cheaper than traditional internet services. Related: T-Mobile launches a cheap new service amid customer struggles In T-Mobile's second-quarter earnings report for 2025, it revealed that the company added roughly 454,000 high-speed internet customers, which is 12% higher than the number it welcomed during the same quarter last year. T-Mobile ended the quarter with 7.3 million high-speed internet customers. As T-Mobile's 5G home internet grows in popularity, it recently made a bold move to lure more internet customers away from cable companies. The phone carrier has added more free perks to its new Amplified and All-in internet plans. Both plans launched in December last year with prices of $60 and $70, respectively, with autopay. Amplified now grants customers access to 24/7 tech support, which offers live video support for help with household smart devices such as thermostats, doorbells, etc., according to a recent T-Mobile press release. This was a perk that was previously only available for All-in internet customers. Related: Verizon discontinues free customer perk from phone plans This expanded perk from T-Mobile directly competes with Verizon, which recently began offering its customers 24/7 tech support in June. In addition, T-Mobile also added advanced cybersecurity to its Small Business Internet Amplified and All-In plans, which will help "block harmful sites, detect suspicious activity and keep connected devices safe from online threats." Customers can manage the feature through the T-Life app. As fixed wireless access internet becomes more of a threat in the telecom industry, cable giants Spectrum and Comcast collectively lost 343,000 internet customers during the second quarter of this year, while T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon collectively added about 932,000 new 5G home internet customers during the quarter. A recent survey from Cord Cutters News revealed that only 40.2% of consumers now rely on cable TV companies for their internet service, a significant decline from 45% in late 2024. Also, roughly 11% rely on 5G home internet, an increase from 8.4% just a year ago. During an earnings call last month, Comcast Chief Financial Officer Jason Armstrong said that the broadband industry is "competitive" and "remains intense." More Telecom News: Verizon's push to make switching harder for customers hits a snagT-Mobile announces generous offer for conflicted customersAmazon pulls the plug on a free service for customers "Fixed wireless remains very active in the marketplace," said Armstrong. "Fiber competitors continue to build more capacity." To combat this growing trend, he said that Comcast has "realigned" its pricing strategy by lowering "everyday pricing," and moving local offers "to a consistent national pricing structure." It also recently introduced one-year and five-year price lock guarantees to its internet plans without contracts. On the other hand, Spectrum, which is operated by Charter Communications, is focused on sharpening its value pitch to customers by clarifying how much money they can save by bundling their phone and internet services. "Going back to customers very clearly, both in marketing and at the time of sale, and at the time of retention, and saying the only reason that you can have a cell phone internet product at that price is because they're forcing you to pay $60.70 per mobile line," said Charter CEO Chris Winfrey during an earnings call last month. "And when you think about what is on your bill with T-Mobile or Verizon 5G home Internet, the reality is, it's dramatically more expensive than what you would pay to Spectrum for an internet mobile product." Related: Spectrum suffers major loss as customers pull the plug on service The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.