Colt retains #1 rank as top Global Ethernet Provider; Challenges emerging for the Global Ethernet market

BOSTON, MA, September 10, 2025 – Vertical Systems Group announces that nine companies achieved a rank on the Mid-Year 2025 Global Provider Ethernet LEADERBOARD as follows (in order based on retail port share): Colt (U.K.), Orange Business (France), Verizon (U.S.), AT&T (U.S.), NTT (Japan), BT International (U.K.), GTT (U.S.), Vodafone (U.K.) and Cirion (Argentina). This industry benchmark for multinational Ethernet network market presence ranks companies that hold a 4% or higher share of billable retail ports at sites outside of their respective home countries.

Five companies attained a Mid-2025 Challenge Tier citation (in alphabetical order): Cogent (U.S.), Singtel (Singapore), T-Systems (Germany), Tata Communications (India), and Telefonica (Spain). The Challenge Tier includes companies with share between 2% and 4% of this defined market.

“Market demand for Global Ethernet ports has slowed during the past year as enterprises worldwide transition to more ubiquitous Internet-based connectivity alternatives,” said Rick Malone, principal of Vertical Systems Group.

Research Highlights

• Colt retains the #1 rank on the Mid-Year 2025 Global Ethernet LEADERBOARD, a position the company attained in 2023.
• Orange Business, Verizon and AT&T continue to hold the #2, #3 and #4 ranks, respectively.
• NTT advances to the #5 position, surpassing BT International which drops to #6.
• GTT and Vodafone advance from the Challenge Tier to the Global Ethernet LEADERBOARD for the first time, respectively attaining the #7 and #8 positions.
• Cirion falls to the #9 and final position on the mid-2025 Global Ethernet LEADERBOARD.
• Challenges are emerging across the Global Ethernet market as enterprise customers move from their legacy networks to alternatives including Cloud and Internet-based services, SD-WAN/SSE/SASE, Wavelengths and other evolving offerings.
  Carrier Ethernet providers worldwide are delivering NaaS (Network as a Service) offerings that provide customers on-demand connectivity, application assurance, cybersecurity, and multi-cloud networking within a standards-based automated ecosystem.
• Five of the nine Global Provider Ethernet LEADERBOARD companies have attained Mplify (formerly MEF) 3.0 Carrier Ethernet certification: Colt, Orange Business, Verizon, AT&T and BT Global.
• Mplify is actively advancing the global use of LSO APIs to facilitate and expand the automation of business functions between Carrier Ethernet providers.

The Market Player tier includes all Global Providers with port share below 2%. Companies in the mid-2025 Market Player tier are as follows (in alphabetical order): Altice International (Luxembourg), Arelion (Sweden), Bell (Canada), China Telecom (China), Claro Enterprise Solutions (Mexico), CMC Networks (South Africa), Comcast [includes Masergy] (U.S.), Epsilon (Singapore), euNetworks (U.K.), Exa Infrastructure (U.K.), Exponential-e (U.K.), Flo Networks (Mexico), Fusion Connect (U.S.), GCX (India), Globe (Philippines), GlobeNet (Brazil), HGC Global (Hong Kong), KDDI (Japan), Korea Telecom (Korea), Liberty Networks (Barbados), Lumen (U.S.), NT (Thailand), Ooredoo Business (Qatar), PCCW Global (Hong Kong), PLDT Global (Philippines), Retelit (Italy), Riedel Networks (Germany), Sparkle (Italy), StarHub (Singapore), Telin (Singapore), Telstra International (Australia), TM One (Malaysia), Zayo (U.S.) and other providers selling Ethernet services outside their home country.

@Ethernet is available now exclusively by subscription to an ENS Research Program. Research data includes the market share detail that powers the U.S. and Global Provider Carrier Ethernet Services LEADERBOARD results. Contact us for more information and pricing.