| Neither Seems Likely To Me Rhythms and AT&T? Neither seems likely to me.
Rhythms is presently in consolidation mode. They're pulling out of markets that have been, for one reason or another, unprofitable for them. When I asked one person there about participation in SBC's "RT" program, he expressed the opinion that was unlikely--at least in the near term. While acquisition of competitor NorthPoint may seem to make sense--and if Rhythms was in an expansion mode and the capital funding was available it probably would--I don't see them buying duplicate facilities at this time.
AT&T is harder to judge. A couple of things do seem apparent: AT&T over-acquired over the last few years. And their long-distance profit-center is no longer much of a profit-center. In fact: all three of the "big three" long-distance providers are making noises about either getting out of the business or spinning those businesses off. AT&T can't help but notice that DSL is equally as cut-throat as the LD market. (Not-to-mention they'd not even be playing in their own back yard!) Coupled with their recent moves to slim-down, it seems unlikely to me they'd be seriously entertaining plans to acquire NP.
On a personal note: if I had my druthers, I far sooner Rhythms acquire my DSL circuit than AT&T.
--
Jim Seymour & Karel the Computer Cat
Agents Provocateurs Extraordinaire
irc://irc.dal.net/#dslreports |
