In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review Asia at FutureNet Asia, ConnectiviTree Executive Chairman, Andreas Hipp, discussed the recent expansion of the company. This growth represents a strategic initiative aimed at tackling the connectivity challenges faced by operators in today's competitive industry.
ConnectiviTree has recently expanded its Global Alliance with new partners. What motivated these partnerships, and how do they align with ConnectiviTree’s strategic goals?
Most of our Alliance partners are either domestic or regional operators, which means they have limited reach regarding fiber infrastructure. They typically focus on selling to enterprise customers, many of whom have an international footprint with offices or manufacturing plants. These partners often struggle to procure international connectivity easily and cost-effectively. Their interest in us lies in our ability to bring a group of network operators together under one umbrella. Being part of this Alliance allows them to achieve a global footprint. This collaborative approach has been key to our success, enabling us to attract more than 20 Alliance members to join our initiative.
What are the key solutions ConnectiviTree offers to its clients, and how do these solutions address the specific challenges faced by enterprises in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape?
ConnectiviTree's connectivity enablement platform is based on three key components. The first one is the network called Ctree Rootnet, which is a brand-new, fiber-based transport network spanning Western Europe and parts of Eastern Europe in its initial phases. The interworking with our Alliance Partner’s network functions somewhat like the tube in London—specifically, the Circle Line, which travels in a loop. Then we have the Alliance members, which are the other lines, and touch at different stations or networks. That's kind of how the networks link up and one can transit from one line across all others with a single ticket.
Then there is an overlay automation and orchestration software called CTree Plaza, which not only encompasses the software automation across our footprint, but also across our partners' footprint. So any Alliance member can order across our network and any other Alliance member network online in real time, and can request connectivity provisions.
The third piece is the Alliance Members themselves, each one a piece of the global network puzzle and part of the “network of networks”—ConnectiviTree.
How has ConnectiviTree adapted its solutions to meet the changing needs of enterprise clients?
Everything is about agility in today’s world; the applications, the cloud instances, which are available online within minutes, and that drives the instant demand for services and connectivity. You can go to AWS, or any other cloud provider, and activate the hosting in minutes. You can spin applications instantly, however, connecting to clouds or other enterprise locations still requires a manual effort, lots of price enquiries and weeks to deliver. What we are trying to do is bring the agility the cloud and applications offer today to the network so it becomes more application-like, offering instant, flexible, seamless availability.
In terms of evolution, what role will ConnectiviTree play in the global telecommunications industry over the next five years?
As mentioned earlier, the third and very important component are the Alliance members; it's an association, and like Rome, it's not built in one day. That being said, we have 20+ members and quite a few in the pipeline set to officially become Alliance members. We still have a some way to go to truly have global coverage. So, of course, the objective is to be the ‘network of the networks’, provide seamless connectivity and become a hub… Similar to how booking.com serves the travel industry—We want to be that for connectivity services.
