Telco Wars Edition 8: A New Era with TX Fiber ??

Hey Telco Fam! It’s been a while—9 months to be exact—since my last newsletter. A lot has changed, and I’m excited to share my latest experiences in the telecom world. My hope is that these insights will help the next telecom entrepreneur on their journey.

Goodbye Gigabit, Hello TX Fiber! ??

For those who don’t know me, I’m Alex Ochoa , and I started my first ISP, Gigabit, back in 2016. We specialized on delivering internet services to enterprises and residential customers across Texas. With an innovative mindset and a hard-working superstar team, we kicked ass for five years! ?? Our momentum was incredible; we were growing rapidly, securing big hyperscaler customers, and expanding our network across Texas. Life was good.

In late 2021, we were acquired by a Dallas-based firm—a significant achievement that brought wealth and new opportunities. I rolled over some equity and stayed on as CTO for the new combined company. They even rebranded their entire company with our name (should’ve charged more for that! ??).

While it was nice not worrying about payroll and having access to funding for innovation and expansion—including standing up an in-house boring crew for fiber construction—I realized something crucial. As an entrepreneur at heart, there’s nothing worse than not being in control of your destiny. Not being able to call the shots or steer the company’s direction was tough to accept. Call it ego or a desire to be the boss, but I thrive when I can make my own decisions and build the team as I see fit. That or maybe I make a terrible employee who has a problem with authority! (at least im honest) ??

All I know is I’d rather make $50K a year running my own business than triple that working on someone else’s dreams. So, I resigned and launched my next telecom venture: TX Fiber ! We specialize in designing, permitting, deploying, and operating service provider networks. With over 15 years in the ISP game, working for Big Telecom and my own companies, I feel this is the perfect time to help ISPs design and scale their networks.

Yes, I’m back to the stresses of payroll and building a new startup and team—easier said than done. But we’ve already secured some big clients for national builds, so the future is bright. ?? I’m finally back in control of my destiny and feel more alive than ever! I continue to be a shareholder in Gigabit and wish them the best. The more money they make, the more I make! Keep working hard boys. ??

TX Fiber: Proud Juniper Networks Partner ??

I’m thrilled to announce that TX Fiber is now an approved 瞻博网络 Partner! ?? At TX Fiber, we specialize in building ISP networks exclusively using Juniper gear. We believe Juniper offers the best equipment for designing and scaling service provider networks, and we’re assisting ISPs nationwide with their Juniper deployments.

Now, as an approved Juniper Partner and VAR, we have direct access to purchase Juniper gear straight from the vendor and provide JTAC support when needed. This is huge for us!

Many companies rely on third-party resources or the gray market to source their equipment. While we’ve all been there, there comes a point when you need to legitimately source approved gear for large-scale projects.

One of the key benefits of being a Juniper Partner is access to demo kits and setups to showcase proven solutions to customers. This is a game-changer, allowing us to provide real-world demonstrations before customers decide to invest. We’re working hard to ensure everyone knows they can come to TX Fiber not only for Juniper deployments but also for sourcing Juniper gear directly from the vendor. We are excited about this partnership.

The “Cloud Exit” Trend ??????

Let’s talk about a trend we’re seeing in the industry: the “Cloud Exit.” It seems many companies are moving data back to on-premises infrastructure instead of keeping it in the cloud. Here are some key takeaways:

? Rethinking Cloud Strategies: Companies are seeking a balance between cloud use and on-premises infrastructure.

? Unexpected Costs: Long-term cloud expenses are higher than many organizations anticipated, prompting a shift towards hybrid or on-premises solutions.

? Regaining Control: A cloud exit allows businesses to regain control, reduce dependence on major cloud providers, and lower costs.

? Security and Performance Concerns: Security vulnerabilities and performance issues, like outages, raise concerns over excessive reliance on cloud services.

? Strategic Approach: While cloud flexibility and scalability remain valuable, companies are adopting a more cautious and strategic approach.

What are your thoughts? Are you seeing the same trends in your organizations? I’d love to hear your experiences and opinions. ??

Starlink Reaches 4 Million Subscribers ??

In other news, Starlink has now hit 4 million subscribers! The milestone means SpaceX has gained a million new customers since the end of May alone. Starlink started providing beta service in October 2020 and has been on a meteoric rise ever since:

? 1 million subscribers in December 2022

? 2 million subscribers in September 2023

? 3 million in May

? 4 million now!

The constellation now comprises nearly 6,000 satellites, offering service in nearly 100 countries to individual users and large enterprise customers. The service is on track to generate $6.6 billion in revenue this year. That’s an incredible feat! ??

Elon Musk continues to be a leader in entrepreneurial vision and execution. We can all learn from this. It’s motivation for me to be the best I can be and build TX Fiber to the best of my ability. Since were on the topic of Elon, something else happened this week that was amazing!

SpaceX’s Historic Starship Launch: A Front-Row Seat ??

Living just 30 minutes from SpaceX’s launch site in South Texas has its perks—and surprises! Early on October 13th, I woke up to my entire house shaking. While my wife slept peacefully, oblivious to the rumbling, I was momentarily concerned about our home’s foundation! ?? Thankfully, everything was fine, and it turned out that Elon Musk was back at it with another groundbreaking feat.

The Most Powerful Rocket Takes Flight—and Returns!

The most powerful rocket ever built took to the skies again—but this time, it came back. SpaceX launched its 400-foot-tall (122 meters) Starship vehicle for the fifth time, lifting off from Starbase at 8:25 am. This launch was historic because SpaceX planned to return Starship’s huge first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, directly to its launch mount. The booster was caught by the “chopstick” arms of the launch tower in a bold and unprecedented maneuver.

“This is a day for the engineering history books,” commented one of the engineers involved in the project.

Pioneering the Future of Space Exploration

SpaceX is developing Starship to help humanity settle the Moon and Mars, among other exploration feats. The vehicle is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable, as evidenced by the Super Heavy launch-mount landing plan, which will significantly reduce the time needed between flights. This approach aims to slash costs and increase the frequency of space travel, making the cosmos more accessible than ever before.

It’s beyond motivating to see such innovation happening literally in my backyard. All of us entrepreneurs look up to Elon Musk and what he has accomplished. Witnessing these advancements firsthand fuels my passion to push boundaries with TX Fiber. The future is bright, and the sky is no longer the limit! ??

Closing Thoughts

It’s been an exciting time of change and growth. I’m grateful to be back sharing my journey with all of you. If you’ve enjoyed this edition of Telco Wars, please consider subscribing and sharing it with others who might find it valuable. Let’s get to 10K subscribers! ??

Feel free to reach out, share your thoughts, or just say hi. Until next time!

Happy Routing,

Alex Ochoa

CEO, TX Fiber

www.txfiber.co

P.S. Don’t forget to follow me on LinkedIn for more updates and insights!