The Forrester Wave™: Managed Global MPLS Services, Q4 2009

In Forrester's 54-criteria evaluation of nine managed global MPLS service providers, the Leaders included AT&T, BT Global Services, Orange Business Services, and Verizon Business. AT&T had the highest scores in both strategy and market presence, while Orange had the highest score in current offering. BT had the best pricing model and provided the best pricing for the three global network configuration examples. Verizon had the highest score for 2009 to 2010 strategic plans by a healthy margin. The Strong Performer category includes four other international telcos and Global Crossing. T-Systems gained considerable ground since our last evaluation, especially in strategy and market presence. Global Crossing also gained ground, especially in Current Offering. Sprint, Cable & Wireless, and NTT Communications regressed somewhat as global players, facing very tough competition in a now mature market. All of the Strong Performers can offer multinational enterprises (MNCs) good alternative choices to the four global telcos for managed international MPLS service, and are best suited for firms headquartered in their home markets or with many sites there, and which spend most of their budget for telecom in one or two geographic regions.