ION: John Sidgmore

By Denise Pappalardo
Network World, 6/8/98

WorldCom, Inc. Chief Operating Officer John Sidgmore still believes that specialized networks offer customers the most robust services and overall features. This isn't surprising, since WorldCom is operating four Internet networks, at least four data networks, a long-distance network that came from several carrier acquisitions and two local telephone networks.

Q. Sprint's announcement came with a lot of fanfare and a promise of many things to come. What was your overall impression?

A. What they announced includes using digital subscriber line (DSL) to bring ATM to the desktop. While we don't disagree with their philosophy, it's not new and not tremendously revolutionary and not even very evolutionary. Their enormous spin on ATM will require a significant investment. We have DSL deployed throughout our original MFS [Communications Company, Inc.] local access [points of presence] today.

Q. What does WorldCom think about ATM at the core of all networking?

A. We haven't bet the entire ranch on ATM. We have ATM networks, and ATM does offer a pretty robust set of quality-of-service features.

But ATM hasn't been proven as the transmission network for today and tomorrow.

Q. Sprint does not own a competitive local exchange carrier like WorldCom does with MFS and Brooks Fiber. Instead, Sprint plans on setting up relationships with regional Bell operating companies and CLECs to lease their local facilities. Will this strategy work?

A. If I were in their position that's what I would do. It is enormously expensive to get into the local access business. This strategy requires coordination and cooperation with the RBOCs, and in many cases that's not easy.

We have the option of going directly to our customers through the former MFS local POPs. There is something about going end-to-end from a cost, quality and product flexibility standpoint.

It's a disadvantage that they still are completely dependent on the RBOCs for local access.