Original Post
Datacom Management launched a bold new website this month, designed by yours truly. If you’re introducing new network or IP services for technology companies selling to telcos and service providers, Datacom Management is worth a look.
Update
Mike Sapien, founder of Datacom Management, passed away in 2020. He was both a friend and a valued customer.
Mike had a distinguished career in telecommunications and internet services, spanning over 27 years. He held executive roles at major carriers, Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), and a data center provider.
Before joining Ovum as Chief Analyst—where he focused on North American and global enterprise telecom markets—Mike worked as a consultant, advising carriers, vendors, and enterprise customers on business development, marketing, and go-to-market strategies. His expertise covered the development, launch, and promotion of various data and voice services, including Centrex, DSL, ISDN, and SMB integrated bundles.
A published author, Mike wrote Mastering ISDN in 1997. He had a deep background in marketing and channel development, collaborating with large and regional carriers and their vendors. He played a key role in bringing new data services to market and remained engaged with emerging technology trends throughout his career.
I met Mike while working at CTSnet during our negotiations with Allegiance Telecom, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGX), which ultimately led to our acquisition. As it became evident that the merger into their Hosting.com brand was failing, Mike explored bringing investors to the table to buy CTSnet from Allegiance and preserve what had been a highly successful and profitable business. He saw our value and was trying to save us. Allegiance, however, wasn’t interested. Just three years later, they filed for bankruptcy after their ill-fated roll-up of multiple ISPs.
Genuine, Smart, and Kind
Throughout and beyond my time at CTS, Mike was a steadfast supporter. I hear his voice this video (above) and wish he was here to share his thoughts about the industry today. We regularly met for lunch at Mario's de La Mesa, where we had some of the most engaging conversations. He was a fan of their menudo. An avid tennis player, he was also one of the smartest and kindest people I’ve had the privilege to know.