Cogent Communications Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Cogent Communications Holdings Inc. (NasdaqGS:CCOI) - **Date of Conference**: September 16, 2025 Key Points Industry and Market Outlook - **End Markets**: The company operates in three segments: enterprise, corporate, and net-centric business [3][4] - **Enterprise Business**: - Acquired from T-Mobile, this segment has seen a compounded decline of 10.6% per year over the last three years, which accelerated to nearly 20% post-acquisition due to purging unprofitable products [6] - Currently stabilizing at zero margin with a negative growth rate of 1-2% [6] - Targeting a return to a 20% margin over the next two years [6] - **Corporate and Net-Centric Business**: - Corporate segment grew at over 11% annually from 2005 to 2020, fell to -9% during the pandemic, and has since rebounded to 3-4% growth [7] - The net-centric segment generates 97% of traffic, growing at 8-9% after a pandemic peak of 26% [7] - Combined legacy segments are growing at mid-single digits (~5%) with 100 basis points of margin expansion annually [7] Financial Performance and Investments - **Sprint Acquisition**: - Acquired for $700 million over 54 months, with a net present value of $244 million in payments due from T-Mobile [8] - The acquisition included 19,000 route miles of intercity fiber and 1,200 route miles of metropolitan fiber [9] - **Data Center Expansion**: - Converted 125 sites into data centers, expanding from 55 to 180 facilities, totaling approximately 2 million square feet and 212 megawatts of power [11] - 24 facilities earmarked for divestiture, with ongoing negotiations for sale or lease [18] Growth Strategy and Market Share - **Wavelength Services**: - Targeting a 25% market share in a $2 billion addressable market, with a current revenue run rate of $36 million annually [10][14] - Competing against Lumen and Zayo, with a focus on intercity segments [14] - Competitive advantages include a larger footprint, faster provisioning, unique physical routes, and lower pricing [15][16] Capital Allocation and Future Outlook - **Capital Expenditure**: - Anticipated capital spending of $100 million annually, with $40 million in principal payments on capital leases [21] - Plans to use proceeds from divestitures for stock buybacks, dividends, or reducing leverage [19][20] Challenges and Market Conditions - **Corporate Business Growth**: - The corporate segment has seen a significant increase in vacancy rates from 6% to over 18% [22] - Current growth rate is stagnant at 3-4%, with a slow recovery from pandemic impacts [23] Additional Insights - **Cost Reduction**: - Ongoing efforts to reduce $20 million in annual expenses from the acquired Sprint business, expected to complete by the end of 2026 [21] - **Market Position**: - Cogent's credibility as the world's largest transfer provider supports its competitive positioning in the market [16] This summary encapsulates the key insights from the Cogent Communications conference call, highlighting the company's current performance, strategic initiatives, and market challenges.