Maria Caballero

Founded in Taiwan in 1986, Edimax Technology Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer and designer of networking solutions. With over 1,100 employees, the firm has expanded and built a global networking equipment brand. Its coverage spans the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, UAE, Hong Kong, and other countries across Asia, Europe, and North America.

Its latest focus is to create products for SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) and SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) markets. With its mission of “networking people together,” Edimax has a comprehensive product line and service offers. Its offers include print servers, wireless, and home entertainment integration solutions. In 2015, it even ranked among the top 35 most valuable worldwide Taiwanese brands.

Origins of Edimax

Edimax was founded in 1986 in the Neihu District of Taipei City, Taiwan. Despite being in the industry for over 30 years, the details around the company’s foundation had been quite ordinary. You won’t find much about it because there’s no astounding tale behind its creation. Edimax’s beginning is also mysterious since very few details about its origins are available online.

The brand didn’t boast any flagship products that made a thunderous entry into the tech trade. Its earlier notable wireless router lineup was the BR series. These routers also came with many other networking gadgets under the Edimax legacy list. The company’s success came mainly from its focus on founding a positive corporate image and expanding its partner channel networks.

The firm also found success when it stayed true to its core values of providing quality services, professional R&D, and innovation. Over the years and as it expanded its area coverage, the brand’s R&D departments also stretched out into various arms. This focus has led the company to man an R&D team of over 200 staff members across Taiwan and China.

Going Public to Maximize the Business

In 2001, Edimax applied for an IPO, and just a year after, in September 2002, the firm sold a volume of 1,148,378 stocks. In December 2021, Edimax’s stock sales jumped to over 222.86 million, showing how much the organization has succeeded and grown far beyond the Taiwanese market and borders.

The company received the ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certifications in 2003. The former proves that the company has reached the international QMS or quality management systems standard. The latter is a marker of the firm’s environmentally-conscious QMS.

Another heavy credential Edimax carries is its active membership in the Wi-Fi and the Gigabit Ethernet Alliances. The Wi-Fi Alliance promotes wireless technologies and interoperability, certifying only products with specifications made for Wi-Fi interoperability, application-specific products, and security. Meanwhile, the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance pushes its members to follow a high standard. Without these memberships, Edimax is less likely to reach the same success that it has now.

Edimax’s Notable Acquisitions

In 2018, Edimax acquired shares of Status Internet Co. Ltd., Ecobear Technology Corp., and Onward Security Corp. for various medium and long-term strategies. Status Internet Co., Ltd. is a Taiwanese software designer specializing in EIP or enterprise integration patterns. Considering Edimax’s continuous expansion into network solutions for the SME market, Status Internet’s technology is vital for its purposes.

Ecobear Technology is another Taiwanese tech company that provides and designs IoT products and services. Their IoT engineering services include integration for mass production, industrial design, and more. Like Status Internet, Ecobear can vastly improve Edimax’s functionality and operations for SMEs and SOHOs.

The last company in which Edimax invested is Onward Security, a cybersecurity compliance solutions brand for the IoT. It uses both automated security with AI and machine learning, which Edimax can use to mechanize its services or processes.

Edimax’s Accessible Camera Passwords

Privacy Affairs found vulnerabilities in Edimax network cameras. These cameras had firmware with a hard-coded default password that allowed hackers to access and control the cameras remotely when discovered. The biggest problem with this issue was that the user couldn’t change the hard-coded firmware password.

Plus, Edimax has a list of default passwords anybody could discover with enough research. Hackers could also gain access to the cameras by finding the port or IP address they operated on, even if they didn’t know the password. The brand addressed the situation by providing a firmware update that fixed the issue. It also updated its newer models and ensured they didn’t pose the same exposure to the users.

Edimax During the Pandemic

During the pandemic, Edimax remained quiet in its operation and adaptation strategy. It released products as usual, but none made it to reach the media or international headlines. Like most businesses at the start of the pandemic, in Q1 2020, Edimax’s stock fell.

Yet, as a fairly successful brand operating in the networking industry, it quickly recovered from its losses. At the end of 2022, the firm hit its best year, where its stock doubled compared to two years prior.

What Edimax Technology Co. Covers Today

Edimax has risen to the top of the networking communications industry thanks to its advanced engineering, design, and manufacturing processes. Its services and products cover everything from SMEs to home use. Many businesses know the firm for its PowerLine adapter solutions, network cameras, VoIP solutions, print servers, PoE solutions, professional surveillance cameras, and more.

Consumers use the brand’s media converters, xDSL routers, Ethernet switches, and home entertainment integration products at home. Its other personal-use products include access points, Wi-Fi extenders, Wi-Fi antennas, and wireless adapters. The firm also offers several Smart Home products, including a Smart Plug Switch and Smart Wi-Fi outdoor/indoor plug.

With branches in France, Germany, India, Ukraine, Singapore, and more, Edimax serves over 70 countries worldwide. It has gone beyond simply developing networking communications products. Today, Edimax also offers IT services and IT consulting.

In 2021, the brand released one of the world’s first made for the Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) Profile Q, the GS-5424PLX. This network switch boasted several features, including a smart network management interface, long-range data transmission, long-range optical or copper connections, and more. ONVIF is a global corporate forum created to standardize the IP-based surveillance camera industry. The GS-5424PLX model conforms to ONVIF’s Profile Q or Quick Installation standards, one of the first in the networking industry.

Its latest enterprise solution is Edimax Pro, a business Wi-Fi network solution. This Wi-Fi solution provides roaming Wi-Fi for the office. Its focus is providing a connection with high bandwidth for data, voice, or video transmission for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environments.

Since its creation in 1986, D-Link has spearheaded developing, producing, and distributing networking, broadband, digital, data communications, and voice solutions. Its cutting-edge products and services continuously adhere to its corporate principle of “Building Networks for People.” The company covers the needs of digital home consumers, small office professionals, small to medium-sized corporations, and enterprise environments.

D-Link grew primarily after focusing on selling consumer items through retail channels. One of its best decisions is to expand into the small office and home office (SOHO) and the small to medium-sized organization (SME) sectors. Most people know the brand for spurring home networking with reliable but affordable equipment.

D-Link’s Launch with Ken Kao

Ken Kao founded the D-Link Group and served as its chairman and CEO. Born in 1950 in Taiwan, he studied at the National Chiao-Tung University in Hsinchu. Kao graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electro-Physical Engineering in 1972. With several engineers in 1986, he founded Datex Systems, Inc. in Taipei, Taiwan.

Kao wanted to create a company that manufactured high-quality and affordable networking devices. He also envisioned an organization that specialized in producing these devices without depending on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The brand he founded used the name Datex, a combination of the terms “data” and “exchange.” When the firm changed its name to D-Link, it kept the “D” from Datex Systems and added the word “Link,” referring to the network, the core of the business.

A Humble Start with Large Potential

Datex Systems began as a company that marketed network adapters. While its first product was a network interface card with a 1-Mbps rating, the brand released the first Ethernet adapter for the PC in 1987, the DE-001. This product was a card that users plugged into a PC motherboard so their computers could access the Ethernet network or LAN.

Within a year, Datex launched the LANSmart Network Operating System. It was the first peer-to-peer structure that facilitated the user’s control of complex network systems. It made an impact on the networking scene because of how easy using these systems became with LANSmart.

With Kao’s leadership, the organization became the top networking equipment provider in the Asia Pacific. This success was primarily attributed to it being one of the first enterprises to enter the PC networking business while it was in its infancy. Kao received the “ROC Model Entrepreneur of the Year” Award in 1991. That same year, Datex Systems expanded internationally, establishing branches in the North American and European markets.

Datex Systems, Inc. became the D-Link Corporation in 1992, in time with the release of the DE-5000. It’s the first chassis-based network switch for enterprises. They are multi-layer LAN devices for more extensive networks, like businesses and campuses.

The firm took home the “Premier Award of Contemporary Business Leaders in Taiwan” three years later. It proved that the company was not only one of the best networking groups but also a principal Taiwanese brand that shifted the limelight to its country.

D-Link’s Stock Market Listing

In 1992, the business delivered five million units annually, generating $150 million in revenues. D-Link developed further when it became the first provider of networking equipment in the Republic of China to list on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, using the ticker code 2332. It became public on October 17, 1994. However, the firm had low brand recognition among consumers. It was because its network interface cards and other components were already found within completed PCs. Consumers didn’t see the point of buying the firm’s products when they were already pre-installed on their computers.

Forbes Magazine named D-Link one of the “Top 300 Companies” in 1998 after years of continuous growth. A year later, the firm stood among the world’s “Top Ten Most Productive Networking Companies,” profiled by Network World Magazine. The networking brand also became one of the “Top 100 Information Tech Companies” in 2002. All these awards boosted the brand’s trustworthiness among consumers. It increased its sales, reputation, and drive to pursue excellence.

D-Link’s Continuous Progress in India

K.R. Naik set up a subsidiary based in Goa, India, the Smart-Link Network Private Limited, in 1993. Naik was a former designer at IBM India. In 1995, D-Link saw the prospect his company offered and bought a 19% stake. Later, this Goa-based operation became D-Link (India) Private Limited.

D-Link India’s presence in 1990s India has the best timing. It was the era when the nation began embracing the Internet. It pushed D-Link India to dominate the local market by manufacturing dial-up modems that offer internet access via computer. The venture also launched several joint initiatives in 2000. This led Taiwanese companies to outsource equipment manufacturing to India. Two are projects with Gigabyte Technology to create motherboards and Lanner Electronics to develop products for the industrial market.

D-Link: Highs and Lows

D-Link and Its NTP Abuse Case

Network Time Protocol (NTP) vandalism brought unwanted attention to D-Link in 2006. It began when Poul-Henning Kamp noticed that the brand’s routers were sending many time requests to an NTP server based in Denmark. The huge traffic increased bandwidth costs and server load, pushing the Danish Internet Exchange (DIX) to request Kamp pay a connection fee of 54,000 DKK or $9,920 yearly. Without the high traffic, the server would’ve been free to the general public.

The problem deepened when D-Link refused to accept responsibility. Eventually, the story blew up online, and people found that its other products also abused other time servers. Only then did the company fix the issues and make a settlement with Kamp.

Ken Kao’s Death

The first Wi-Fi Certified 802.11n from the D-Link Corporation came out in 2007. It was one of the most efficient and best-selling routers. However, all highs come with lows, and D-Link’s occurred on April 2, 2008, when the networking label’s founder and CEO, Ken Kao, died at 58.

His death led to Roger Kao’s undertaking of the position of Chairman. It also pushed D-Link to enter a new age. The brand emphasizes software-developed Cloud services, leading to the creation of Cloud routers, cameras, and more.

THE HNAP Controversy

In 2010, some routers had vulnerabilities linked to Home Network Administration Protocol (HNAP). It meant that some routers let hackers access the device’s administrative settings. The firm’s vague response made people further criticize its next steps.

The company also downplayed the seriousness of the problem. It had even blamed SourceSec, the organization that put a light on their router issues. “By publicizing their tool… the authors of the report have publicly outlined how the security can be breached, which could have had serious repercussions for our customers,” D-Link stated.

After other sources spread the news, D-Link was forced to mend their router problems.

D-Link and ZynOS

ZynOS is a firmware used in several routers. However, in January 2015, it was found to be vulnerable to DNS hijacking. DNS hijacking is a cyberattack that manipulates DNS queries and redirects users to malicious sites. ZTE and TP-Link also got dragged into the controversy because they used the same firmware.

D-Link phased out the affected models and launched a firmware patch to fight the security vulnerabilities posed by ZynOS for consumers who still use them.

D-Link and the Pandemic

At the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show, the D-Link Corporation presented its mydlink smart home solutions. These solutions provided AI-enabled protection, improved security, better manageability, and the mydlink cloud that lets users access their files anywhere. Together with these solutions, D-Link released a complete home smart Wi-Fi water sensor kit and an outdoor Wi-Fi camera to keep families connected and safe during the global crisis.

The digital, broadband, and networking group also became a key player in India during the pandemic. D-Link India reacted by committing Rs. 60 lacs or almost $73,500 to the country’s initiatives against COVID-19. The funds went in three directions: PM Care Fund, CM COVID Fund, and the TATA Memorial Hospital.

D-Link Today

For a networking company with a variety of experiences spanning over twenty years in the industry, D-Link still continues to progress and evolve with the changing times. In 2020 alone, the brand received four awards: CES Innovation Award, iF Design Award, iOT Breakthrough Award, and the Taiwan Excellence Award. These attest to the firm’s constant development to serve its consumers and partners better.

It provides a variety of networking systems, like Wi-Fi routers, range extenders, switches, adapters, and Wi-Fi hotspots for mobile. The brand also offers cameras, smart plugs, hubs, sensors, smart home ecosystems, and apps. These consumer-focused products boost the user’s connectivity, security, and convenience.

For businesses, D-Link provides switches, surveillance, wireless, network security, and network infrastructure products. These enterprises can also use the label’s offered cloud solutions and tools, boosting each organization’s productivity and efficiency.

Telecommunications manufacturer Arris Group is responsible for many innovative products involving data, video, and telephony systems. Originally a joint venture of Antec Corp. and Nortel Networks to assemble broadband wares in 1995, Arris is now a leading brand for cable providers in network and entertainment. After offering its stock to the public in 2016, it continued to grow and expand. Today, under CommScope, which acquired it in 2018, the company’s headquarters resides in Suwanee, Georgia, and has over 6,000 employees who take care of its telephony modems and other related products. However, before it became a forerunner in the cable telephony industry, the Arris Group went through many mergers and acquisitions that we’ll discuss below.

Scoping Out Arris’ Owners Throughout the Years

The Arris you’re familiar with today started with Anixter, Inc., an innovative equipment maker in the cable industry. To set its distribution channels, the brand bought TeleWire Supply in 1987. A year after, Anixter created a revolutionary product by collaborating with AT&T, successfully introducing the first analog video laser transmitter.

Antec Corp., one of the first owners of Arris, bloomed from being a division of Anixter in 1969 to finally being a separate independent corporation in 1993. Following its predecessor, the business grew as a cable TV equipment distributor and entered the Internet-access equipment industry. After it became a public company, Antec bought expedient organizations, specifically Electronic System Products (ESP), Power Guard, and Keptel, to strengthen its position in the market.

These acquisitions made it possible to produce broadband products. The budding trade offered many opportunities the company wanted to make the most of, so Antec worked with Nortel Networks to seize this market potential. Nortel and Antec’s 1995 joint venture led to Arris Interactive LLC, with the former owning a third of it. They wanted products for delivering telephone and data services, particularly to send data over hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) cables.

However, Nortel found itself in a tough spot when it contended against Cisco Systems and Lucent Technologies concerning data and voice networking. To build up its data segment, Nortel bought Bay Networks Inc., which already has LANCity, a specialist in cable modems, as one of its divisions.

To be at par with Cisco and Lucent, Nortel pushed for a restructure that involved its joint venture with Antec. This reorganization combined Arris Interactive, Antec, and LANcity’s expertise, leading to the creation of Arris Group. Antec was also renamed Arris International, Inc.

The latest owner of the Arris Group is CommScope which sells wired and wireless network infrastructures.

The First Peek at Arris’ Earning Potential

Before it became Arris Group, Arris Interactive had already proved its earning potential in 1999 with $329 million in gross sales. To increase its stake and benefit in the venture, Nortel sold its broadband technology arm to the business. With it, Arris gained LANcity’s assets and business. This step culminated in a 142% revenue increase during the following year’s first and second quarters.

Arris’ Sacrifices for Its Long-term Goals

In 2002, the brand sold its Keptel and Actives product lines. Taken from Antec, Keptel was a telecommunications equipment design and manufacturing section focusing on outside plant telecom and transmission equipment. On the other hand, Actives concentrated on HFC products. Together, the two labels garnered over $100 million in sales in the previous year. Even if this was the case, Arris decided to cut them out as they were “not core” to its long-term goals.

The company balanced the loss of these assets with the Cadant Inc. acquisition. A year later, the business also sold the Antec-made ESP line. The engineering consulting services brand brought a $1.4 million loss that year.

How Arris’ Products Brought It Success

Thanks to its previous affiliations, Arris didn’t have issues designing products dedicated to sending voice, video, and data over broadband. One of its main focuses is home and personal needs, so the brand wanted data to travel from the headend to private dwellings and then around the location.

To do this, Arris utilized Antec’s 1550 nm narrow transmitter and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system. These items increase a fiber network’s bandwidth, and by combining DWDM with its first 18-band block converter, the technology allowed 144 bands on a common fiber.

The product aimed to join all multimedia on a single IP platform. With it, providers could offer crossover services that paved the way for many consumer-focused apps. These consist of videophone, security, and meter reading applications.

Its key products are Cornerstone and Packet Port. Cornerstone, a top cable telephony product, allows community antenna television (CATV) suppliers to offer digital phone services. Meanwhile, Packet Port combines cable telephony and internet access. It assigns user session numbers, specifies IP network server applications, and identifies packet purpose for communication.

Arris Group Going Public and Becoming a Subsidiary

Arris Group’s success continued in the following decade. The business became an international brand and bought several other companies in the telecommunications and network industry to support its traffic.

On January 6, 2016, the Arris Group offered its stock to the public. It took the ticker symbol ARRS on NASDAQ.

After two years, CommScope Holding Company, Inc. acquired Arris in hopes of driving profitable growth in new markets and communications. The merger cost CommScope $7.4 billion in cash, with the Carlyle Group funding the deal with a $1 billion equity investment.

The transaction noted the companies’ similar culture of prioritizing customers and persistently innovating. The purchase was completed in April 2019. In the same year, CommScope calibrated its business segments into:

• Home
• Broadband
• Venue and Campus
• Outdoor Wireless Networks

Notable Acquisitions by the Arris Group Throughout the Years

Arris Group’s first acquisition was Cadant Inc., a manufacturer and designer of cable modem termination systems. The merger started in 2001 and finished in 2002, with the cost being 5.25 million common stock shares and 2 million shares for future product sales. The group also assumed $17 million in liabilities.

To thrive in the set-top box (cable box) market, Arris announced in December 2012 its plan to buy Motorola Mobility’s home unit from Google. It took $2.35 billion in stock and cash for the purchase to go through. Aside from boosting both brands’ global presence, the deal also advanced Arris’ home technology prowess.

Another set-top box manufacturer became a subsidiary in 2015. Pace plc, a principal provider of technology solutions to PayTV and broadband, was taken for $2.1 billion in cash and shares. Though it’s based in the UK, Arris managed it from Georgia. Buying Pace improved the business’s international reach. It also expanded the company’s product portfolio across equipment, services, and software. With its new acquisition, Arris earned a large-scale entry into the satellite segment.

Then, Arris acquired Ruckus Wireless and ICX Switch Business for $800 million cash to upgrade and maximize its wired and wireless networking tech. Their switches, Wi-Fi access points, cloud management, LTE, and more are vital in supporting the group in its network infrastructure and sales strategy.

Arris SURFboard SB6190 Modem Issue

In 2017, a class-action suit was filed in California alleging Arris violated state, consumer protection, and warranty laws. The complaint targets the brand’s SURFboard SB6190 cable modem’s design flaws, pointing out the product’s subpar quality and unfitness to connect to the internet. The legal action also refers to the business’s failure to properly label the product and advertise in good faith.

The Arris Brand in 2022

Despite its merger with CommScope, Arris continues to be an industry leader. Its tech and products are sold via its parent company, and the group still pursues customer-focused hardware, software, and services.

With the resources and direction of CommScope, Arris steadily grows and expands in the telecom market. The merger opens both companies’ research, development, and technical expertise. Together, they have around 15,000 patents.

Today, Arris continues to work on products and communications infrastructure solutions such as:

• Smart home solutions
• Wired and wireless communications setup
• Integrated broadband access
• Private network solutions
• Small cell solutions for any licensed and unlicensed wireless band

Launched in 1996, the American company Netgear Inc. has manufactured some of the most popular routers, modems, and switches of today. Its founder, current Chairman, and CEO is Patrick Lo, who saw a gap in the industry for networking equipment. Lo established the company with the vision of filling this market need. In 2003, Netgear debuted publicly and now employs over 1,000 workers worldwide, with their own departments managing home security systems, smart hubs, networking cameras, and other security solutions. This networking giant owes its success to its many ups and downs, and today we’re going to cover its journey, starting with the owner.

‘Lo and Behold, Netgear’s Founder and Owner

Before Netgear became a public company, it operated under Patrick Lo’s ownership. Lo began as an electrical engineering student at Brown University. Before completing his degree, he took a job at the Hewlett-Packard Company (HP). Lo worked at HP for 12 years, occupying management positions in different departments, including technical support, software sales, marketing, and product network management.

With the experience under his belt, Lo left HP in 1995 and went to Bay Networks, Inc. in Billerica, Massachusetts, to lead their wireless division.

In the Lo household, Patrick observed each member racing to their computers to be the first to connect to the single dial-up internet connection. Assuming other families held the same problem, Patrick began thinking of a solution and transferred the idea to his stakeholders at Bay Networks.

Bay Networks loved his pitch and greenlit his projects. After building up and renaming the division, Lo later bought Netgear to run it as his own company. He admitted he didn’t take the easy route but noted it was worth it all in the end.

First Products That Pushed It Further and Beyond

The company’s initial merchandise came out in 1996 in Japan. This SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) product line featured ten devices, including five 10BaseT hubs, two Fast Ethernet switches, two Fast Ethernet hubs, and one ISDN router. This first line confirmed Lo’s assumption of a market need in the home networking sector. Netgear’s products became popular when high-speed broadband internet connections and wireless internet technology evolved.

However, the business found it hard to compete for volume sales. One of its Fast Ethernet hubs was at the higher end of the price range (at $1,650). Meanwhile, its competitors sold consumer devices for $99 and office products for $299. Lo strictly monitored Netgear’s inventory and costs while focusing on new product introductions to gain new customers. The brand marketed off-the-shelf wares from other companies, like Broadcom, Atheros Communications, and Marvell. It also contracted Taiwanese manufacturers so the brand could focus on providing system integration.

Over the years, Netgear has operated under different owners – first Bay Networks, then Nortel. Lo served as its CEO from its foundation until he bought the brand from Nortel. It released products such as the Nighthawk Wi-Fi routers and the newer Orbi mesh Wi-Fi line to keep up with the growing networking market.

Conversion From Private to Public Company

When Netgear spun off from Nortel, Pequot Capital Management Inc. provided $15 million in equity financing. This financial backing pushed the brand to plan an initial public offering (IPO) of stock. The official filing for an IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) didn’t occur until 2003.

The reason behind the late filing was out of Netgear’s hands. In the first four months of 2000, 158 companies became public, keeping the SEC busy. In 2002, 24 companies lined up for public ownership. Finally, Lo announced the company’s debut as a publicly owned company in April 2003, during the slowest period of IPO activity.

In the time leading to its conversion to a public company, Netgear began offering various wired and wireless networking gear. It included switches, adapters, print servers, access points, routers, and hubs. The business provided new hope for the market investors recovering from the dot-com debacle. Even the investors that withdrew from the 2000 IPO returned to bid on the networking company, raising $98 million in IPO in 2003.

Currently, Netgear uses the ticker symbol NTGR on NASDAQ and is an S&P 600 component.

(Net)Gearing Up for the Future With New Acquisitions

Netgear acquired several companies to bolster its market growth and tech development. Its first purchase as a public company was in 2006, when it bought SkipJam Corp. a home entertainment software company, for $9 million.

Its subsequent notable acquisition occurred in May 2007, when it paid $60 million to buy Infrant Technologies, the creator of the ReadyNAS line of network-attached storage devices. It marked the brand’s entry into the storage market.

Over a year later, it acquired China-based integrated security solutions provider, CP Secure Inc., for $18 million. CP Secure’s security and network protection complemented Netgear offerings, like the ProSafe Wired and Wireless VPN firewalls and SSL VPN concentrator.

The networking equipment provider Avaak became a Netgear acquisition in July 2012, taking the company from Trinity Ventures, InterWest Partners, and Leapfrog Ventures. The networking giant didn’t disclose the amount, but it reached $24 million in cash. Avaak provided wireless video networking technology, like remote video surveillance equipment, helping Netgear expand its business into offering online services like the VueZone cloud monitoring service.

One of the most recent and significant Netgear acquisitions is Meural, the producer of gesture-controlled Wi-Fi-connected digital frames showcasing photos or classic artworks. Netgear used Meural’s technology to expand into the digital home lifestyle market.

Netgear and Its Scandals

Netgear’s models became at risk in January 2017, leading to the 2017 Netgear bug. This exploitation allowed third parties to access the brand’s routers and internal networks. Hackers used this chance to turn the routers into botnets, leaving over a million users vulnerable to remote attacks.

Another major problem popped up in 2020. The Netgear Vulnerability issue affected the brand’s SOHO devices. Several of its home Wi-Fi routers had a security flaw that enabled hackers to assault the devices remotely. These routers had firmware with a built-in web server. Users had to enter their password into an unprotected firmware whenever they launched the administration interference. The bug impacted 79 Netgear router models.

The Company During the Pandemic

Like many companies, Netgear adopted a work-from-home style in the first quarter of 2020. It retained critical on-site work, like engineering, by implementing extra safety measures.

The company financially soared through during the pandemic with the launch of Orbi and Nighthawk models. As a known networking hardware and software brand, Netgear’s Wi-Fi routers were in demand in many households, but the temporary shutdown of offices slowed the sales of its business products. The brand adapted by shifting its focus on providing home-based consumer devices, but it didn’t stop supply shortages.

Despite generating $230 million in net revenue in Q1 of 2020, Netgear’s shares declined for a short while when it withdrew its 2020 financial guidance. The brand bounced back in Q3 and Q4 of 2020. However, because of the pandemic’s Omicron variant, even if there’s growth in the demand for its products, Netgear faced supply issues from factories closing down. It also experienced higher costs for sea freight transportation, materials, and product components in 2021.

Netgear Today

Today, Netgear doesn’t manufacture anything on its own. The brand outsources a big chunk of its manufacturing to other electronics companies but does system integration of its components on-site. These other companies include Delta Networks, Foxconn, Pegatron Corporation, Delta Networks, Shenzhen-based USI Electronics, and more.

The networking giant began with a 10-product line that included hubs, switches, and a router. Since its first product release, the company has also expanded to providing DSL/cable gateways. The technology it gained from its acquisitions has also led it into the markets for surveillance IP cameras and network-attached storage. In 2021, Netgear also released smart home products and pro gaming routers featuring Wi-Fi 6E technology.

What once started as a family-operated business in 1930 grew to become America’s third largest telecommunications brand. CenturyLink, Inc. offers its clientele security, networking, and cloud technologies delivered in pre-configured or customized products. Labeled by key technology analyst firms as a leader in network services, the company continues to improve its goods through acquisitions and partnerships.

CenturyLink was rebranded as Lumen Technologies in 2020 with the ticker symbol LUMN and employs approximately 38,000 professionals. It’s currently headquartered in Monroe, Los Angeles, and is an S&P 500 firm and member of the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest enterprises.

CenturyLink’s Origin Story: Family Business turned to Industry Leader

CenturyLink was not immediately a grand idea. It was a property passed on from one family member to another until it was fortified to be the telecommunications group it’s labeled as today. Its earliest known forerunner was the Oakridge Telephone Company, first owned by F.E. Hogan Sr., located in Oak Ridge, Louisiana. In 1930, Hogan sold it for a sum of $500 to William Clarke and Marie Williams.

The couple then passed the ownership to their son, Clarke McRae Williams, as a wedding gift in 1946. CenturyLink became a family-operated business up until 1968 when it was incorporated as Central Telephone and Electronics. Shortly after, it changed its name to Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. in 1971.

Building a Formidable Start: CenturyLink’s Early Acquisitions

CenturyLink bought La Crosse Telephone Corporation in 1972, ushering in a multidecade period of significant growth for the business. The company’s early success continued, partly as a result of a string of related acquisitions that bolstered CenturyLink into achieving higher profits and productivity.

Some of the brand’s most essential assets are those obtained through its purchases of Digital Teleport and Level 3 Communications in 2003. These acquisitions included each group’s fiber networks. Two years later, the organization began its wireless phone and data service exploration. It also bought more fiber networks throughout the central United States.

In exchange for $5.8 billion in stock, the company was able to buy Embarq Corporation. The transaction was to make its operations more cost-efficient and fight against the decreasing demand for traditional phone systems. In 2010, Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. (CenturyTel) became CenturyLink.

By securing Qwest Communications in 2011, it expanded its scope and diversified its revenue portfolio. This deal effectively propelled the firm to the third spot on the national rating. In the same year, the business was also able to obtain ownership over Savvis. This arrangement marked the beginning of its participation in the cloud computing sector to further upgrade its products and services.

CenturyLink in Transcending Limits and Challenges

Success is never without obstacles. Throughout the firm’s venture, consumers have questioned its customer service and general reputation due to several significant service disruptions.

1. CenturyLink Network Outage. A report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published in 2019 recounted one of the worst network outages in US history. CenturyLink suffered this unfortunate network service interruption in late 2018. It had a 37-hour nationwide outage that affected almost 22 million customers in 39 states and prevented the connection of nearly a thousand 911 calls.
2. Utah and CenturyLink’s Security Software Ad. CenturyLink was criticized for not giving their Utah consumers the choice to decline a purchased filtering software before connecting them to the internet. This incident was due to the brand’s misinterpretation of a newly passed bill. Its sponsor clarified that the bill requires providers to conspicuously notify customers of filtering options to protect minors, but not block internet access.
3. CenturyLink’s Minnesota Over-Billing Issue. The company was also involved in a fraudulent case by Keith Ellison, then Minnesota attorney general. The problem affected 12,000 Minnesota consumers who were either promised discounts or deserved refunds for “bogus fees.”

CenturyLink powered through these hurdles by continuously providing solutions and innovations to better its services and reputation. Through this, it was able to retain the trust of its local and primarily governmental consumers. A contract for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s core networking services was given to CenturyLink in 2019 to improve its information technology and telecommunications. Moreover, a task order to offer secure connectivity to the US Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and a $1.6 billion deal with the US Department of the Interior (DOI) were both awarded to CenturyLink in 2020.

Towards a New Century: The Shift to “Lumen”

CenturyLink has gone a long way and so is the telecommunication market landscape it’s a part of. The Fourth Industrial Revolution gave rise to life-altering technologies including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and autonomous cars. These significant changes and additions are the greatest factors in the company’s decision to rebrand itself to reflect such developments.

CenturyLink officially announced its renaming to Lumen Technologies, Inc. on September 14, 2020. The new name follows Lumen’s focus on helping businesses handle technological difficulties, and enhance operations amidst this new digital and telecommunications age. Edge computing and intent-based networking are only two of the features that Lumen introduces into the revolution.

Lumen also has its own stock ticker LUMN, which separated the more lucrative portions of what was formerly CenturyLink from the home and small business offerings. Going forward, the corporation has no plans to alter its reporting or financial approach.

Lumen’s CEO, Jeffrey Storey, has recently become more vocal about how uncomfortable it is to see Lumen perceived by the market as a purely traditional communication corporation that still uses copper lines. Thus, it’s only proper to rename the brand to showcase its diverse products, especially its fiber-based income stream, where Lumen or “Light” came from.

Outplaying Competitors: Lumen’s Advantage

A few notable rivals of CenturyLink are AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon. Its reputation of having a well-established infrastructure spanning a significant chunk of the central United States gives it a distinct advantage. Along with lower starting prices for internet connection, the brand also provides better value pricing for gigabit internet than others.

However, some review websites have claimed that CenturyLink’s customer service is subpar. Plus a string of disastrous network outages over the past ten years, one of which the FCC called among the worst in American history, it’s undeniable that CenturyLink’s reputation has been damaged. Other areas where it falls include the internet speeds it provides (Comcast, for instance, is faster) and the general shortage of Wi-Fi hotspots.

Despite these external threats, the IT and Managed Services provided by the business give it room to flourish. It offers technology solutions and handles such on its clients’ behalf. These uninterrupted services include network, hosting, cloud, and IT services.

The Economic Drivers of Lumen

CenturyLink has a variety of networking services based on Ethernet technology. It’s one of the primary growth factors for the business. Equipment configurations for point-to-point and multi-point Ethernet-based networking services are also available.

Data transmissions via wide area networks and metropolitan area networks are supported by specific equipment arrangements. The market for carrier ethernet is expanding steadily. In fact, nearly 80% of the market for bandwidth connectivity services worldwide is currently accounted for by ethernet-based networking services.

Unlit optical fiber technology developed by the organization is another growth engine. Dark fiber is another name for an unlit optical fiber that has already been installed. This high-bandwidth technology aids big companies in creating highly secure networks. It assists others with network deployment and implementation as well as specialized network design.

The rapidly expanding market for dark fiber networks is seen as a crucial factor for CenturyLink’s long-term revenue growth.

What Lies Ahead: The Perceived Trajectory of Lumen

Since the introduction of 5G that’s designed for fast connectivity speeds and sizable bandwidth for easier communication, many experts shared their concerns for CenturyLink’s future. This unease is caused by cable TV and phone lines becoming unpopular with the latest technologies.

Although it has fiber optics needed in 5G, CenturyLink may fall as a subsidiary of a business with more knowledge in the field. But that is not for certain. The organization still has a significant cash flow it can use to upgrade its operations to be at par with the latest connectivity technology.

Its current tagline of “The platform for amazing things,” sheds light on the future CenturyLink, now Lumen, is after. With a vision of “Furthering human progress through technology“, the brand can continue to develop its edge computing and cloud services to stay relevant. However, because it has been recruiting advisors and analysts, it won’t be a surprise for the brand to have a major restructuring or be sold in its entirety.

In the end, the future of CenturyLink’s ability to provide services for its customers is still uncertain and will depend on the company’s ability to adapt to technological changes.

Technicolor is a creative services company providing communications, media, and entertainment technology based in Paris, France. With over a century in the business, its journey began in 1893 as Compagnie Française Thomson-Houston (CFTH), a General Electric sister company. After a series of mergers over decades, it grew into Thomson Multimedia, which bought and then adapted the Technicolor designation in 2009. 

 Following bankruptcy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Technicolor had to undergo restructuring and rebranding in September 2022. The company’s products and services include designing gateway boxes, Android TV solutions, and set-top boxes. It also provides supply chain solutions for packaged media products, including mastering, replication, direct-to-retail, and direct-to-customer distribution of products.  

Before becoming an international tech brand, Technicolor’s history began in 1893 as Thomson SARL.

Behind the Techhicolor’s Journey, A Merger’s Nightmare

Born in 1853, Elihu Thomson formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company with Edwin Houston in 1879. Three years later, the firm merged with the Edison General Electric Company, birthing the General Electric Company (GE). A year later, the sister company “Compagnie Francaise Thomson-Houston (CFTH)” was established in Paris. It marked the beginning of a company going through many mergers and name changes while it paved its way to success. 

Many years of continuous business passed before CFTH became the Thomson-Houston-Hotchkiss-Brandt company. It merged with Hotchkiss-Brandt in 1966, and soon, the newly merged firm was renamed to Thomson-Brandt, an electronics-focused business. Two years later, the brand became Thomson-CSF after it joined with the Compagnie Générale de Télégraphie Sans Fil or CSF. 

It wasn’t until 1982 that Thomson-Brandt and Thomson-CSF became nationalized. The former became Thomson SA (Société Anonyme) before it merged with the latter. Thomson bought its consumer electronics division and RCA assets a couple of years after GE bought out RCA. The same year saw the formation of Thomson Consumer Electronics.  

As the century closed, the French government divided Thomson Multimedia and Thomson-CSF’s consumer electronics arm from their defense businesses, and then privatization occurred in 1999. After privatization, Thomson-CSF worked with several other brands before it became Thales in 2000, a company for electrical systems, aerospace, defense, security, and transportation.  

 Becoming Technicolor and Turning into Vantiva 

 In 2005, Nicholas de Wolff, the company’s marketing executive, planned and launched interactive Innovation centers in Burbank, USA, Rennes, France, Hannover, Germany, and Beijing, China. These centers showcased the brand’s early research projects to industry leaders and clients close up. Even with the opposition of some business units, de Wolff launched the research demos at trade shows like the IBC and NAB. It boosted the firm’s sales and reputation in developing product roadmaps. 

 After decades of keeping the Thomson name, the company rebranded in January 2009 due to the financial crisis and to avoid bankruptcy. Thomson had to sell some of its acquisitions and assets. It also involved divesting Technicolor’s assets to other companies. One of them was Ericsson’s acquisition of the Technicolor broadcast services division. 

In the following years, Technicolor acquired various companies while letting go of older assets. For example, the brand shut down its last film lab in 2014 and focused solely on digital technology. In 2018, the company sold off its Patent Licensing business to InterDigital for $475 million. 

 On September 2022, Technicolor changed its name to VANTIVA. It trades on the Euronext Paris stock market under the ticker symbol VANTI. It has also launched a new global website that shares its new moniker. This development occurred after Technicolor Creative Studios spun off as a public company (with a Euronext Paris ticker code: TCHCS) focused on film, games, advertising, testing, and other development services. Vantiva would retain 35% of TCS’s capital while the spin-off company operates independently from Vantiva.  

 Noteworthy Acquisitions and Mergers 

Most of Technicolor’s key mergers occurred in the decades following its foundation. One of the most critical mergers in its history is the 1966 Thomson-Houston-Hotchkiss-Brand merger. In 200, Thomson Multimedia bought Corinthian Television and Technicolor from the UK telecommunications company Carlton Television. It marked the beginning of the firm’s move into the broadcast management, facilities, and services market. 

 In 2004, Thomson joined TCL in manufacturing television and DVD products in a joint venture called TTE. The endeavor involved Thomson giving all the RCA and Thomson products manufacturing to TCL. In exchange, Thomson would maintain control of the brands. TCL became a global leader in TV manufacturing and the first Chinese company to compete against large international corporations worldwide. Meanwhile, Thomson controlled the brands and licensed them to TTE.  

A year later, Thomson bought the Broadcast Division of Koninklijke Philips (Philips Broadcast) and the Grass Valley Group, Inc. in 2002. The purchases gave the company more opportunities in the broadcasting market. Dipping its toes into the industry further, Thomson bought the Moving Picture Company from ITV in 2004. The latter provided visual effects, CGI, motion design, animation, and other similar services for film, advertising, and TV. It also bought Singingfish, an internet startup created as an audio/video search engine.  

Several years later, Thomson Multimedia expanded its entertainment service capabilities further. Its Technicolor Content Services arm invested in an Indian animation studio named Paprikaas and bought out the company later. The firm also partnered with DreamWorks Animation to further develop Paprikaas. Later, the company rebranded the Indian studio as Technicolor India. Thomson also sold its non-Europe-based consumer electronics audio-video businesses to Audiovox, including the RCA brand. 

In 2005, the firm bought Cirpack and Inventel. The French company Inventel developed consumer electronics and communication systems and was a known primary architect of Triple play in Europe. Cirpack manufactured soft switches, a call-switching node running on software for telecommunications networks instead of switching hardware. The two telecommunications businesses boosted Technicolor’s power in the broadcasting industry. 

Newer notable acquisitions occurred between 2014 and 2015. It acquired the VFX studio called Mr. X Inc. The Toronto-based studio was essential to Technicolor’s pursuit of high-concept TV, genre features, production, and international film co-productions. 

Next was the French animation production company OuiDo! Productions in 2015. It later became a part of the Technicolor Animation Productions group. Cisco Systems also sold its TV set-top box and cable modem arm for $600 million to Technicolor in 2015. Following this sale was the company’s acquisition of The Mill for $292 million. Based in London, The Mill was a leading visual effect and content creation studio for advertising. Finally, it acquired Toronto-based Cinram Group, Inc. for $40 million, an optical disc and cassette tape manufacturer.  

The Technicolor-Quinta Scandal 

A noteworthy Technicolor scandal occurred in 2019 when the company and Frederic Rose, its former CEO, were accused of fraud and breach of trust regarding their role in the bankruptcy of Tarak Ben Ammar. It began in April 2012 when Quinta Communications filed a criminal complaint against its parent company. After a series of investigations, French authorities found and examined computer and phone records of executives, including Rose’s. The high court of Nanterre suspected that Technicolor played a key role in Quinta Industries’s undoing to take advantage of its assets at low prices. Technicolor bought the assets for some $1.1 million, while Quinta Industries was valued at around $57 million.  

 Nanterre’s high court also indicted the company for failing to release its plan to launch Technicolor Entertainment Services France, a post-production facility. The court also suspected that the brand intentionally withheld information about its joint venture negotiations with Deluxe, a former rival. When it became a Quinta shareholder, Ben Ammar’s company was banned from negotiating with Deluxe, a move that could have helped Quinta Industries rise out of bankruptcy.  

 Bankruptcy and Restructuring  

 The COVID-19 pandemic caused Technicolor to file for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in June 2020. A restructuring process followed after Richard Moat became the new CEO. In 2021, Streamland Media bought Technicolor’s post-production brand to focus on visual effects and animation for advertising, gaming, film, and live events.  

 In May 2021, the company launched Technicolor Creative Studios as a global umbrella structure for its family of studios like The Mill, Mr. X, MPC, and Mikros Animation. The third quarter of 2021 yielded a positive result for the brand. By February 2022, it released news of the Technicolor Creative Studios division’s spin-off into an independent entity on Euronext Paris. It was concluded on the September 27 2022, the very day the company parent publicized its rebranding to Vantiva.  

 Vantiva Today 

 Vantiva has a few major divisions: Connected Home and Home Entertainment Services. The first is dedicated to the design of broadband gateway boxes, set-top boxes, and Android TV solutions. Outside of China in September 2020, it had the highest market share for modems and broadband gateways. 

 The Home Entertainment Services division manufactures, distributes, and manages DVD and Blu-Ray disc supply chains for US film studios, and the CD and games industry. It diversified beyond media and entertainment and manufactured components and consumables for the life science and medical devices industries. 

Vantiva’s products today include broadband, video, supply chain solutions, and IoT for verticals, and honestly we can’t wait to see what’s next for the project.