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Our mission is to create a recognized global technology leader providing cloud-centric solutions that enable the secure exchange of information, with unparalleled scale, performance and elasticity.
−Removed: We are headquartered in Plano, Texas, and have a global presence with research and development or sales and support locations in over thirty countries around the world.
+Added: We are headquartered in Plano, Texas, and have a global presence with research and development or sales and support locations in over 30 countries around the world.
Company History
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Today’s communications service providers ("CSPs") and enterprises are investing in their networks to compete in an ever-changing technology and customer experience landscape driven largely by cloud computing, mobile workforces requiring hyper-connectivity, new high-performance applications and use cases, and an insatiable demand for bandwidth by end-customers and the applications they use.
−Removed: As a result, service providers and enterprises are adding key enabling technologies to their networks for increased flexibility, programmability, scalability, reliability, and to enable new applications and services with an expedited time to market.
+Added: The exponential growth in traffic has largely been driven by the consumption of video and in the next several years, it is expected that new applications leveraging large language model ("LLM") AI will dramatically increase the amount of network bandwidth usage.
+Added: As a result, service providers and enterprises must constantly seek out new technologies to refresh their networks to provide increased flexibility, programmability, scalability, and reliability, to enable these new applications and services with an expedited time to market.
These investments provide a competitive advantage and bring value-added services to increase network efficiency, increase customer satisfaction and produce new revenue streams.
−Removed: Within these broad industry themes, investment in our products and services is driven by several key industry trends and strategy priorities.
+Added: Within this broad industry context, investment in our products and services is driven by several key industry trends and strategic priorities.
Deployment of 5G Mobile Technology
−Removed: We believe one of the most significant investments underway by mobile carriers across the world is the deployment of 5G broadband cellular technology.
+Added: One of the most significant investments being made by mobile carriers across the world is the deployment of 5G broadband cellular technology.
This architecture shift impacts the entire ecosystem, from handsets and Radio Access Network through the metro and core network and back-office systems.
The ultimate goal is a step-function improvement in capacity and coverage, as well as to unlock new revenue generating applications for consumers and businesses.
−Removed: We believe new mobile applications will emerge, such as Reality/Virtual Reality ("R/VR"), cloud gaming, telehealth, Internet of Things ("IoT"), and Industry 4.0, all made possible by the massive bandwidth increases, low latency and highly secure infrastructure that 5G provides.
−Removed: The investment is not limited to the mobile infrastructure itself;
−Removed: enhancements are needed at the data transport and management layers of the network as well, driving fiber and IP Networking to the very edges of the network.
+Added: The increased bandwidth unlocked by the higher capacity radio infrastructure enables new use cases such as Fixed Wireless Access, displacing lower capacity wired internet access solutions, and we believe new mobile applications will emerge, such as Reality/Virtual Reality, cloud gaming,
+Added: telehealth, Internet of Things, and Industry 4.0, all made possible by the massive bandwidth increases, low latency and highly secure infrastructure that 5G provides.
+Added: As deployments increase, the access and aggregation layers of the mobile network also require significant upgrades and investment, driving fiber and IP Networking to the very edges of the network.
This investment cycle and technology disruption is an opportunity for new innovative suppliers to be selected.
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Governments in many countries around the world are investing to address and help close the “Digital Divide” and extend ultra-broadband services and connectivity to underserved communities.
−Removed: As an example, in the United States, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund ("RDOF"), the 5G Fund for Rural America, and the USDA Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program expect to provide billions of dollars in funding to deliver broadband connectivity to rural communities in the U.S.
−Removed: Whether working or learning from home, streaming 4K television, or playing the latest online video games, rural subscribers demand dependable, high-speed Internet access to participate and thrive in the digital world.
+Added: As an example, in the United States, the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, the 5G Fund for Rural America, and the USDA Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program expect to provide billions of dollars in funding to deliver broadband connectivity to rural communities in the U.S.
+Added: Whether working or learning from home, streaming 4K television, or playing the latest online video games, rural subscribers require dependable, high-speed Internet access to participate and thrive in the digital world.
Forward-looking service providers are taking advantage of government funding programs to expand network capacity and transform the communities they serve.
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As a result, businesses and consumers have rapidly shifted from brick-and-mortar facilities and travel to work-from-home, or hybrid work-in-the-office and work-from home, using cloud communications and collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom Phone and others, and require these communications platforms to be highly secure and scalable.
+Added: New applications enabled by LLM AI will dramatically increase the traffic from the subscriber device to the data center.
Evolution of Communications Service Provider Networks to Reduce Total Cost of Ownership
−Removed: CSPs of all types continue to face challenges to their businesses because of the significant technological evolution, increasing competition, disruption by Over-the-Top ("OTT") providers (those providing video entertainment over the Internet rather than through traditional cable, telco and satellite networks), and shifts in customer expectations.
−Removed: They also need to drive new revenues with more digital, efficient, automated, secure, and reliable networks driven largely by software, automation, cloud networking, and other technologies such as analytics and machine-learning.
+Added: CSPs of all types operate in a hyper-competitive environment as consumers and businesses have an increasing number of choices for their communication needs.
+Added: It is imperative that Providers invest to capture new revenue streams, while reducing the cost to operate their networks.
+Added: Legacy services such as IP Multiprotocol Label Switching ("MPLS") circuits, Centrex lines, and TDM phone are increasingly expensive to operate, and Providers need to migrate customers to new offerings or risk high margin revenue streams.
All these factors are causing service providers to re-think and evolve, or even over-haul, the way networks are designed, architected, managed, and optimized to deliver services to their customers with disruptive economics.
−Removed: They are migrating their networks and services software to run on private and/or public clouds (referred to as the "Telco Cloud") using cloud-native technologies, architectures and operational processes with automation and concepts such as Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery ("CI/CD").
+Added: They are migrating services to new software platforms that can be deployed in both private and/or public cloud environments (referred to as the "Telco Cloud") using cloud-native technologies, architectures and operational processes with automation and concepts such as Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery ("CI/CD").
Increasingly, network operators are also pursuing open, multi-layer optimized and disaggregated IP and Optical networking solutions, where they have the flexibility to assemble networks based on transport and control subsystems from different vendors with software-defined networking.
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With an integrated IP and optical transport solution, a critical infrastructure network operator can provide a highly reliable, secure, future proof communications solution optimized for critical industries.
−Removed: An essential requirement for this solution includes a security suite that incorporates state-of-the-art operational technologies protection measures, giving operators extra confidence in the security of their network.
Data is the lifeblood of any business, and it must be easily accessible across the enterprise to power business applications and to support services to end-customers.
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Enterprises deploy optical networking, secured by optical encryption, to attain the needed performance and security.
−Removed: Similarly, command and control groups within today’s armed forces have a need for high performance secure networks as their strategic sensors and assault systems are becoming more integrated.
+Added: Similarly, command and control groups within today’s defense forces have a need for high performance secure networks as their strategic sensors and assault systems are becoming more integrated.
In this ecosystem, effective decision-making requires the pooling and analysis of data from a vast array of sensors and other information sources.
The data must be delivered securely, in real-time, to wherever it is required.
−Removed: These solutions integrate intelligent optical transport with agile IP networking to provide a converged, secure, communication network.
+Added: These solutions integrate intelligent optical transport with agile IP networking to provide a converged, secure, communication network that can be rapidly configured and deployed in challenging environmental conditions.
Strategy Overview
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Our transformative acquisition of ECI in 2020 dramatically expanded our addressable market beyond secure voice communications into IP Networking, Optical Transport, and Software-Defined Networking ("SDN") Management and Automation.
−Removed: We are implementing a focused strategy to target our broad global base of Service Provider and Enterprise customers to establish Ribbon as key supplier of networking solutions.
+Added: We are implementing a focused strategy to target our broad global base of service provider and enterprise customers to establish us as key supplier of networking solutions.
Key elements of the strategy include:
−Removed: • Operational Integration – In order to provide laser focus on the unique aspects of our portfolio, a business unit model was initially adopted along with regional sales teams and an integrated corporate organization.
−Removed: This has served us well over the last three years.
−Removed: However, we are seeing a growing number of opportunities where closer collaboration would be beneficial.
−Removed: As a result, in 2023 we have re-organized the Company and created a single leader for both of our segments with the establishment of a Chief Operating Officer role.
−Removed: Similarly, the go-to-market team has been unified with the establishment of a single Global Sales Leader role.
−Removed: Internally we launched the "Ribbon 3.0" program, reflecting the continued transformation of the Company and a drive towards best-in-class operational efficiencies and execution.
+Added: • Operational Integration – In order to provide laser focus on the unique aspects of our portfolio, we initially adopted a business unit model following the acquisition of ECI, along with regional sales teams and an integrated corporate organization.
+Added: As the number of opportunities to leverage the combined portfolio emerged, we evolved the organization in 2023 and integrated the two business units under a single leader and established a Chief Operating Officer position.
+Added: We have tightened the alignment further in 2024 with the integration of several software research and development ("R&D") teams and an integrated customer support and services organization.
+Added: Similarly, the go-to-market team was combined under a single Global Sales Leader role.
+Added: Internally we launched the "Ribbon 3.0" program, reflecting our continued transformation and drive towards best-in-class operational efficiencies and execution.
• Cross-Selling and Tier One Service Provider Growth - We are laser-focused on marketing and selling our combined post-acquisition broad portfolio to our global deployed base of service provider and enterprise customers to expand our presence and share of the larger IP and Optical networking and transport market and cross-sell our complete portfolio.
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We have identified opportunities where we have been able to combine technology from both our Voice and IP Routing portfolios in order to address a clear customer need and differentiate our offering.
−Removed: We continue to build on early cross-selling successes and have multiple promising pipeline opportunities in progress for 2023.
−Removed: • Participate in the 5G Opportunity – We have made significant Research & Development ("R&D") investments in our IP Optical product portfolio in order to address multiple opportunities tied to the deployment of 5G mobile networks.
−Removed: We want to be at the forefront of preparing our customers for the deployment of 5G on two major fronts:
−Removed: providing for metro, backhaul and long-haul transport and networking solutions in service provider networks, industrial verticals, and critical infrastructure;
−Removed: and supporting their needs as new applications, including IoT and AI, become a reality with 5G.
+Added: We have seen significant success
+Added: with regional service providers in the U.S., bolstered by the f ederal funding programs focused on improving internet access to underserved markets.
+Added: • Participate in the 5G Opportunity – We have made significant R&D investments in our IP Optical product portfolio in order to address multiple opportunities tied to the deployment of 5G mobile networks.
+Added: We are focused specifically on the access and aggregation layer of the network including cell-site routers, optical transport, and IP aggregation and routing.
+Added: In many cases, the build-out of this part of the network lags or follows the up-front investment in the RAN portion of the network, and increases as traffic levels grow.
We believe 5G is a multi-year opportunity as global service providers roll out the new capital-intensive technology and build out the needed network infrastructure over the next decade.
We have reported several recent strategic wins in this area and believe this will be a key catalyst for growth.
−Removed: As an example, we have recently been selected by Bharti Airtel in India to provide a Cell Site Router (CSR) IP platform as they launch 5G mobile services in the country.
−Removed: In addition, Bharti has also selected our Apollo Optical Transport platform for Long Haul DWDM transport.
−Removed: Similarly, Rogers in Canada is deploying our Apollo solution for both mobile and fixed broadband services.
• Software-Centric and Cloud-Native Offerings - The value of virtual, cloud-native, and software-driven solutions deployable in the cloud has only grown because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the migration of network services to the Telco Cloud, which underscores another area of major focus for us.
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• Enterprise Offerings - The market need and growth rate are higher at the network edge than at the core.
−Removed: We are focused on growing this area of our business through our overall enterprise solutions for securing communications and our IP optical network connectivity solutions, which together are typically geared towards critical infrastructure, large enterprises, and medium-size businesses, building on our partnerships with key go-to-market channels and solutions providers such as Microsoft, as well as other popular unified communications and collaboration ("UC&C") platforms such as Zoom Phone and similar service provider UC&C offerings.
+Added: Our solution portfolio includes secure Unified Communications software-centric applications and IP and Optical network connectivity solutions.
+Added: Together, these solutions address a wide number of critical infrastructure, federal defense, large enterprise, and medium-size businesses.
+Added: We leverage partnerships with key go-to-market channels and solutions providers such as Dell and Microsoft, as well as other popular unified communications and collaboration ("UC&C") platforms such as Zoom Phone and similar service provider UC&C offerings.
• Partnerships - We continually look to form industry partnerships that will enhance our current solution offerings to our customers.
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Segment Information
−Removed: Effective in the fourth quarter of 2020 and in connection with the ECI Acquisition, our Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") began to assess our performance based on the performance of two separate lines of business within the Company:
+Added: Our Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") assesses our performance based on the performance of two separate lines of our business:
the Cloud and Edge segment ("Cloud and Edge") and the IP Optical Networks segment ("IP Optical Networks").
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• Modernizing, evolving, and securing enterprise and industry vertical UC environments, supporting both on-premises and cloud-based deployments.
−Removed: • Securing voice sessions and protecting VoIP communications connectivity infrastructures, contact centers, Private Branch Exchanges ("PBX") and media servers.
+Added: • Securing voice sessions and protecting VoIP communications connectivity infrastructures, contact centers, Private Branch Exchanges and media servers.
• Providing identity assurance that helps mitigate robocalls, prevent fraud by determining phone caller identity, intent, and reputation.
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• High performance carrier-grade compute platforms leveraging the latest advancements in silicon including NVIDIA GPU processors.
−Removed: • Feature-rich virtualized and cloud-native software products for deployment in both private and public cloud environments such as Amazon Web Services ("AWS"), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform ("GCP").
+Added: • Feature-rich virtualized and cloud-native software products for deployment in both private and public cloud environments such as Amazon Web Services ("AWS"), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform.
• Fully cloud-native implementation supporting as-a-Service ("aaS") offers and business models.
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Enterprise SBCs provide service assurance and visibility within the enterprise for service-provider hosted and managed UC services.
−Removed: Offerings in this portion of our portfolio include Ribbon Connect for Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, a cloud-based aaS offering for securing calls to the public telephone network from the enterprise.
+Added: The EdgeMarc multi-service gateway portfolio provide support for e nterprise voice interfaces such as PRI, T1, and FXO, as well as aggregation and transport of local data traffic.
+Added: Our products are also provided as-a-service through our Ribbon Connect for Microsoft Teams Direct Routing platform, a cloud-based aaS offering for securing calls to the public telephone network from the enterprise.
• Ribbon Call Trust TM is an aaS offering for providing identity assurance.
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Our customers utilize these capabilities to provide a better call experience to their end-customers.
+Added: We are an industry leader in the development and deployment of the STIR (Secure Telephone Identity Revisited) and SHAKEN (Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENS) standards, with deployments throughout North America and Europe.
• A cloud-native Analytics Platform with applications that aid customers in gathering actionable intelligence from their communications network elements, including SBCs in the core and edge of their networks, to provide them with network performance visibility, service assurance, security, and fraud mitigation.
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for our SBCs, Enterprise Edge products and Ribbon Connect.
−Removed: • Neustar, Inc., Metaswitch Networks (acquired by Microsoft) ("Metaswitch"), First Orion Corp., Secure Logix Corporation, TransNexus, Inc.
+Added: • Neustar, Inc., Metaswitch Networks ("Metaswitch"), First Orion Corp., Secure Logix Corporation, TransNexus, Inc.
and Transaction Network Services, Inc.
−Removed: ("TNS") for our Identity Assurance and Call Trust offerings.
−Removed: • NETSCOUT Systems, Inc., Niometrics Pte Ltd, Empirix Inc.
+Added: for our Identity Assurance and Ribbon Call Trust offerings.
+Added: • NETSCOUT Systems, Inc., Mobileum, Empirix Inc.
and Ericsson for our Analytics offerings.
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Other smaller private and public companies are also focusing on similar market opportunities.
−Removed: Mergers among any of the above companies or other competitors, as well as additional competitors with significant financial resources entering our markets, could further intensify competition.
+Added: Mergers among any of the above companies or other competitors, as well as additional competitors with significant financial resources entering our markets,
+Added: could further intensify competition.
Mergers between service providers may also increase competition for a smaller number of more concentrated customers and channels for products and solutions.
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Our IP Optical Networks portfolio delivers multiple solutions spanning access, metro, regional, and long-haul geographies, and using ring, mesh, and point-to-point topologies.
−Removed: IP Multiprotocol Label Switching ("MPLS") and other protocols provide a broad range of networking services for our customers.
−Removed: Our solutions for optical and IP transport and networking include 5G-native solutions for mobile-backhaul, metro and edge aggregation, core networking, data center interconnect, legacy network transformation and transport solutions for wholesale carriers.
+Added: MPLS and other protocols provide a broad range of networking services for our customers.
+Added: Our solutions for optical and IP transport and networking include 5G-native solutions for mobile-backhaul, metro and edge aggregation, core networking, data center interconnect, multi-service access, and transport solutions for wholesale carriers.
High availability and security also make the solutions ideal for critical infrastructure delivering mission-critical services.
−Removed: Our IP Optical Networks multi-layer product portfolio consists of:
+Added: Our IP Optical Networks multi-layer product portfolio includes:
• The Apollo product line provides programmable and open Optical Transport Network ("OTN") capabilities over Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing ("DWDM") support.
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Our Apollo hardware and software products deliver reconfigurable and programmable low-latency optical transport that simultaneously speeds up provisioning of new services while maximizing traffic throughput at the lowest cost per bit.
−Removed: Apollo supports both capacity-reach optimized optical transmission with up to 1.2 Terabytes per second per channel, as well as power-cost optimized 400 Gigabytes per second optical transmission leveraging 400G ZR+ pluggables.
+Added: Apollo provides customers with a choice of two transmission optimizations.
+Added: Capacity-reach optimization uses industry-leading 5nm-140Gbaud technology that maximizes channel capacity for any given distance.
+Added: It supports optical transmission speeds ranging from 400 gigabits per second for ultra-long haul applications to 1.2 terabits per second for short haul applications.
+Added: Power-cost optimization uses low power consumption and cost effective 400 gigabit per second technology, which delivers strong enough performance for metro applications.
The Apollo product line provides state-of-the-art transparent and flexible DWDM and OTN transport with integrated packet switching capabilities.
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Apollo also provides deployment choice, whether as an integrated solution or as standalone subsystems for disaggregated open architecture multivendor solutions.
−Removed: A key security feature of Apollo that is used broadly in critical infrastructure and enterprise deployments is Layer 1 Optical Encryption supported by standard and Post Quantum Computing algorithms.
−Removed: • The Neptune product line of high-performance switching and routing solutions are optimized to provide a converged multi-access edge and the service aware routing needed for cost/performance optimized connectivity between consumers and the applications and services they are using.
−Removed: Neptune provides a converged multi-access edge by supporting multiple services delivered over multiple access network technologies.
+Added: A key security feature of Apollo that is used broadly in critical infrastructure and enterprise deployments is Layer 1 Optical Encryption.
+Added: This uses AES-256 encryption, which is the strongest and most robust encryption standard that is commercially available today, and also supports a choice of standard, Post Quantum Computing, and Quantum Key Distribution key exchange mechanisms.
+Added: • The Neptune product line of high-performance switching and routing solutions are optimized to provide the converged multi-service, service-aware aggregation needed for cost/performance optimized connectivity between consumers and the applications and services they are using.
+Added: Neptune supports multiple services delivered over multiple access network technologies.
Ethernet interfaces ranging from Gigabit Ethernet ("GbE") through to 100GbE allow all IP/MPLS and Ethernet access networks to be supported, and pluggables providing XGS-PON, EPON and TDM circuit emulation allow PON access networks and legacy TDM access network to be supported.
Traffic from the access networks is aggregated and connected to the services, applications, and compute platforms, meeting the specific service level agreements required for each service, including guaranteed latency, jitter, capacity, or reliability.
−Removed: To achieve this, Neptune uses a range of protocols such as IP/MPLS, MPLS-TP ("Transport Profile") and segment routing traffic engineered ("SR-TE").
+Added: To achieve this, Neptune uses a range of protocols such as IP/MPLS, MPLS-TP and segment routing traffic engineered ("SR-TE").
As services, applications and compute platforms become increasingly distributed across the network, located in local data centers and multi-access Edge compute platforms, Neptune, in conjunction with MUSE, can dynamically route the connectivity wherever it is required, whilst still meeting the performance requirements.
−Removed: In addition, Neptune provides a 400G ZR+ pluggable capability, allowing it to support both single layer IP over DWDM ("IPoDWDM") connectivity or multi-layer optimized IPoOTN/DWDM connectivity, whichever best meets the network operator's needs.
+Added: In addition, Neptune provides a 400G ZR+
+Added: pluggable capability, allowing it to support both single layer IP over DWDM connectivity or multi-layer optimized IPoOTN/DWDM connectivity, whichever best meets the network operator's needs.
With these capabilities, Neptune is ideally suited for residential broadband backhaul, business services, MSOs and private enterprise networks.
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This covers complete lifecycle management and automation to speed up time to revenue, reduce total cost of ownership, and facilitate integration into wider ecosystems.
−Removed: It is powered by a carrier-grade, cloud-native Platform as a Service ("PaaS") and works in conjunction with our LightSOFT TM network management system.
+Added: It is powered by a carrier-grade, cloud-native Platform as a Service and works in conjunction with our LightSOFT TM network management system.
Built for a 5G services world, Muse enables network operators to programmatically configure and combine hard and soft slicing technologies to create slices appropriate to different sets of 5G-enabled services and customer sub-networks.
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Competition in the markets addressed by our IP Optical Networks products is strong.
−Removed: The market is shifting from an ecosystem dominated by a few large telecommunications legacy hardware equipment companies with proprietary solutions such as Ciena Corporation ("Ciena"), Cisco, and Nokia, to a market that is characterized by a combination of closed and open solutions, software-defined networking, and dis-aggregation ready for next generation networks, services and applications including 5G, that leverage commercial technology.
−Removed: We believe this shift creates opportunities for us to increase our share as compared to direct competitors such as Cisco, Juniper Networks, Inc., Huawei, Nokia, Ciena, Infinera Corporation, ADVA Optical Networking SE, and Fujitsu Limited.
+Added: The market is shifting from an ecosystem dominated by a few large telecommunications legacy hardware equipment companies with proprietary solutions such as Ciena Corporation ("Ciena"), Cisco, and Nokia, to a market that is characterized by a combination of closed and open solutions, software-defined networking, and dis-aggregation ready for next generation networks, services and applications including 5G, leveraging merchant silicon technology.
+Added: We believe this shift creates opportunities for us to increase our share in the market as compared to direct competitors such as Cisco, Juniper Networks, Inc., Huawei, Nokia, Ciena, Infinera Corporation, Adtran Networks, and Fujitsu Limited.
We believe a key differentiation from these competitors is our optimized and integrated multi-layer IP optical solutions.
These solutions leverage our SDN, IP routing and optical networking and control plane technologies for both IP and Optical networking layers to create a truly integrated IP Optical Network that optimizes resource utilization in real time, and provides the best overall economics to customers differentiating us from our competitors.
−Removed: Advanced planning algorithms design multi-layer IP Optical networks that maximize traffic handling with failure resiliency by looking holistically at all network layers, providing the best return on Capex.
+Added: Advanced planning algorithms design multi-layer IP Optical networks that maximize traffic handling with failure resiliency by looking holistically at all network layers, providing the best return on capital expenditures.
These multi-layer optimized networks can then meet specific customer and service needs on a case-by-case basis.
Services and Support
−Removed: As communication networks continue to grow increasingly vital to society and business, and complexity grows with every new technology introduction cycle, service providers are increasingly challenged to control costs and find the expertise to install, maintain, and repair these platforms.
−Removed: We have a rich history of providing a broad offering of service-based solutions to complement our products and to help service providers and enterprises grow revenues, serve their customers, reduce costs, and improve productivity.
+Added: As communication networks continue to grow increasingly vital to society and business, and complexity grows with every new technology introduction cycle, service providers are increasingly challenged to control costs and find the expertise to operate, maintain, and repair these platforms.
+Added: We have a rich history of providing service-based solutions to complement our products and to help service providers and enterprises grow revenues, serve their customers, reduce costs, and improve productivity.
Our Global Services organization provides a wide range of services to enable our customers to achieve those goals.
−Removed: Professional and Project Management Services include hundreds of cloud communications, VoIP, IMS voice services and IP and Optical networking specialists and partners offering technical depth, network breadth and tools to assist customers in all aspects of network modernization, design, and deployment.
−Removed: Our Maintenance Support offerings deliver a comprehensive support strategy for all products, applications, and solutions purchased.
−Removed: Our Managed Services offer proactive monitoring to keep customers' production communications running smoothly so they can concentrate on running their business.
−Removed: In addition, our Education Services help ensure customers have the technical knowledge and skills necessary to achieve service readiness and delivery goals to accelerate time-to-market, manage costs, and get the most out of our products and solutions that they use.
+Added: Our Professional Services team includes hundreds of cloud communications, VoIP, IMS, IP and Optical networking specialists offering technical depth, network breadth and proprietary tools to assist customers in all aspects of network modernization, design, operation and deployment.
+Added: Our Maintenance Support offerings deliver a comprehensive support strategy for all of our products, applications, and solutions sold.
+Added: Our Managed Services offer proactive monitoring to keep customers' production communications running smoothly so they can concentrate on operating their business.
+Added: In addition, our Education Services are designed to equip customers with the technical knowledge and skills needed to accelerate service readiness and delivery goals and to help customers get the most out of our products and solutions.
Sales and Marketing
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To support our customers' requirements, our direct sales team is organized geographically and by major customers.
−Removed: Our sales teams sell our full portfolio of products and solutions from both segments to customers in each salesperson's assigned region.
−Removed: Our direct sales force and resellers are supported by a highly trained technical sales engineering staff who work closely with our customers to develop technical proposals and design systems to optimize system performance and economic benefits for our customers.
+Added: Our sales teams sell our full portfolio of products and solutions from both segments to customers in each salesperson's assigned
+Added: Our direct sales teams and resellers are supported by a highly trained technical sales engineering staff who work closely with our customers to develop technical proposals and design systems to optimize system performance and economic benefits for our customers.
Our marketing organization is responsible for building awareness of our brand in the markets served and driving engagement with our strategies, solutions, and products.
−Removed: It promotes our brand and portfolio value propositions to key stakeholders,
−Removed: including our customers, channel partners, and prospects globally.
+Added: It promotes our brand and portfolio value propositions to key stakeholders, including our customers, channel partners, and prospects globally.
The organization develops all of our corporate and portfolio messaging for different target audiences, and manages all customer and industry communication channels, including public relations, digital content (including for the web and social media), events, and trade shows, as well as demand generation and account-based marketing campaigns in conjunction with our sales force.
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We also utilize agility and safety stock processes to help meet higher-than-forecasted customer demand to stock raw material and sub-assembly inventory.
−Removed: We occasionally experience unforeseen demand drops of certain products or sub-assemblies due to technology evolution, customer consumption behavior, or shortened product lifecycle.
+Added: Occasionally, we experience unforeseen demand drops of certain products or sub-assemblies due to technology evolution, customer consumption behavior, or shortened product lifecycle.
For example, we encountered supply chain disruptions in 2021 due to component demand and logistics complications.
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The worldwide supply chain disruptions that started mid-2020 have affected multiple aspects of our product realization processes, including extended component lead-times, part shortages, higher input costs, and increased logistics complexity.
−Removed: While this has moderated somewhat in the second half of 2022 and into 2023, issues remain and continue to affect our delivery execution and profitability.
−Removed: We continue to implement specific actions to manage these issues, including investment in key component inventory and re-design of sub-assemblies to improve product availability.
−Removed: We occasionally experience unforeseen demand drops of certain products or sub-assemblies due to technology evolution, customer consumption behavior, or shortened product lifecycle.
−Removed: We regularly review current inventory levels to ensure adequate reserves for excess and obsolete inventory arising from shortened product life cycle or demand drops.
+Added: This has largely moderated in 2023 , however some higher input costs remain, and our inventory levels are somewhat elevated.
+Added: We continue to implement specific actions to manage these issues, including investment in key re-design of sub-assemblies to improve product availability and lower costs.
+Added: The ongoing war in the Middle East has caused some disruption to material supply chain and production operations in that region.
+Added: We have successfully avoided any significant impacts thus far by carefully managing the flow of material, and enacting our established business continuity processes with alternate suppliers and production operation centers.
Research and Development
−Removed: Our global research and development ("R&D") workforce is geographically distributed across a balanced set of centers of excellence.
+Added: Our global R&D workforce is geographically distributed across a balanced set of centers of excellence.
This allows us to distribute work in a cost-effective manner and provide time-zone sensitive support to our global sales team and customers.
We supplement our deep in-house expertise with a small set of long-term contracting partners, allowing us to flex up and down as required to match customer demand.
−Removed: To maintain our position as a technology leader, we continue to invest in our development methodologies, leveraging and adopting industry best practices in the domains of DevOPs, Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery ("CI/CD"), cloud-native software, Security and Test Automation.
+Added: To maintain our position as a leader in product and solution development, we continue to invest in our development methodologies, leveraging and adopting industry best practices in the domains of DevOPs, Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery ("CI/CD"), cloud-native software, and Security and Test Automation.
In addition to delivering product-specific feature requests from our customers, our R&D resources that are focused on our Cloud and Edge business segment continue to focus on leading edge technology that will allow our customers to move from purpose-built appliances to fully virtualized and cloud-native solutions, including private, public, hybrid and multi-cloud deployment models as they modernize their networks.
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Our unique value-add is demonstrated by advanced well-integrated optical and packet solutions managed by state-of-the-art cross platform SDN management system.
−Removed: We are also investing in open and optimized IP and Optical solutions as well as disaggregated networking solutions for our customers.
We leverage modern technologies and industry best practices across all of our products and solutions to provide security at each layer of the solution, enabling end to end security of the overall system.
−Removed: We continue to invest in analytics and automation to allow our customers to operate our solutions at scale with end-to-end visibility and control over the robustness, security, and efficiency of the solution.
+Added: We continue to invest in analytics and automation using the latest artificial intelligence and machine learning ("AI/ ML") technology, to allow our customers to operate our solutions at scale with end-to-end visibility and control over the robustness, security, and efficiency of the solution.
Intellectual Property
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and foreign patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright law and contractual restrictions to protect the proprietary aspects of our technology.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2022, we had been issued 669 patents in the U.S., which expire between 2023 and 2041, and had 44 in-process patent applications in the U.S.
−Removed: As of such date, we also had 276 issued patents in foreign jurisdictions, and had 16 patent applications.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2022, we had 34 trademarks registered in the U.S.
−Removed: and 118 trademarks registered in foreign jurisdictions.
+Added: As of December 31, 2023, we had 688 issued patents in the U.S., 631 of which expire between 2024 and 2042, and we had 41 in-process patent applications in the U.S.
+Added: As of such date, we also had 335 issued patents in foreign jurisdictions, and we had 87 in-process patent applications in foreign jurisdictions.
+Added: As of December 31, 2023, we had 30 trademarks registered or pending in the U.S.
+Added: and 120 trademarks registered or pending in foreign jurisdictions.
In addition to the protections described above, we seek to safeguard our intellectual property by employing measures to protect against the unauthorized use or disclosure of the source and object code for our software, documentation and other written materials;
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In addition, our operations are also subject to a number of environmental regulations such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive ("WEEE") and the Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment ("RoHS").
−Removed: We have developed policies and
−Removed: procedures to assist us in complying with these laws and regulations.
+Added: We have developed policies and procedures to assist us in complying with these laws and regulations.
Our historical compliance costs, including those related to environmental regulations, have not resulted in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
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Approximately 657 employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements or works councils and we believe that our relations with the labor unions are generally good.
−Removed: Ribbon's core values are focused on teamwork, passion (taking pride in our achievements), being a trusted advisor to our customers, innovation and being "TRUE" - Transparent, Respectful, Unpretentious and Empowered.
−Removed: We leverage these values to engage our employees, providing a workplace in which we all work with shared objectives that contribute to a successful business, better society, and a better world.
−Removed: We also offer our employees opportunities for personal and professional growth, while maintaining a culture of open and transparent communications where everyone receives constructive performance feedback and is encouraged to offer new ideas about any aspect of the work we do and our ways of doing things.
+Added: Ribbon takes pride in conducting business in accordance with the highest ethical standards.
+Added: Our Code of Conduct outlines the importance of employees acting in an honest and ethical manner.
+Added: Ribbon employees are familiar with this policy.
+Added: The principles of integrity, accountability and fair dealing are the cornerstone of our business and are critical to our future success.
+Added: All of our employees understand that adherence to proper conduct helps us improve our competitive positioning and business outcomes.
+Added: To assist in this, we are deliberate in making sure that each employee is aware that they play a role in fostering a work environment that encourages mutual respect and congenial relationships among employees.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ("DEI").
−Removed: We believe that having a diverse group of people who contribute different perspectives and viewpoints is both the right thing to do and a serious competitive advantage, critical to the success of any organization.
−Removed: Our goal is to continue to promote an environment that encourages all team members, regardless of race, sex, background, or affiliation, to take pride in their individual contributions.
−Removed: In 2021, Ribbon introduced the DEI Council as part of our commitment to further our awareness of the different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences of our employees and to operationalize our efforts to build on these assets.
−Removed: The DEI Council is composed of leaders representing all functions and geographies who are dedicated to creating greater awareness and education about DEI, setting priorities, and developing programs to fulfill these objectives in coordination with Human Resources (“HR”) and other internal stakeholders.
−Removed: There were several key objectives in 2022, and one of our main areas of focus was to address the imbalance between the number of men and women in the company, a pervasive issue throughout the technology industry.
−Removed: In addition, we wanted to enhance awareness of the impact of DEI company-wide, addressing any bias in our recruiting process, and strengthening the women’s leadership community.
−Removed: Our initial DEI strategy is to achieve stronger representation of women in a variety of roles at all levels of the organization, with an emphasis on women in management.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2022, 23% of our employees identified as female and those 770 employees are located geographically as follows:
−Removed: Percentage of employees identifying as female
−Removed: North America 24 %
+Added: We believe that a culture which encourages all team members, regardless of race, sex, background, or affiliation, to take pride in their individual contributions and work together as a team is key to our success.
+Added: In 2023, our DEI Council focused on conducting educational initiatives to increase awareness of different employee backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
+Added: One example of an initiative designed to increase DEI awareness was having employees write blogs on the topics of Korean Heritage and Celebrating Hispanic Roots to highlight their background and culture for their colleagues.
+Added: Ribbon is committed to fostering and maintaining a culture of diversity and inclusion for employees.
Employee Hiring, Turnover and Engagement.
−Removed: We continue to monitor our overall employee engagement through HR metrics, such as total number of hires, voluntary turnover rates, new hire surveys, exit interviews and our annual employment
−Removed: engagement survey.
−Removed: We know that successful employee engagement helps increase employee attraction and retention.
−Removed: The 2022 job market was very competitive, especially in the technology sector.
−Removed: The challenging environment for both hiring and retaining talent resulted in increased time to hire and turnover rates.
−Removed: For the year ended December 31, 2022, we hired 407 employees, a decrease of 28% from the number of employees hired in 2021, and our voluntary employee turnover rate in 2022 was 13.3% globally.
−Removed: Another way we measure employee engagement is through our recently launched recognition program, “Real Time Rewards.” This program not only helps with engagement, but reinforces our “thank you culture.” Employees at Ribbon are able to recognize the achievements and contributions of their teammates, peers, and managers.
−Removed: In 2022, approximately 4,000 such awards were given, whereby 44% of our employees was recognized and rewarded for their contributions.
+Added: Our turnover and hiring metrics are refreshed on a weekly basis.
+Added: This up-to-date information allows us to quantify our success with employee retention, implement timely and selective retention initiatives as needed, and measure the speed at which we attract and onboard qualified candidates.
+Added: In 2023, we experienced an improved retention rate compared to the previous year.
+Added: Our voluntary turnover rate in 2023 was 5.9 % compared to 13.3% in 2022.
+Added: This increased employee retention rate in 2023 was a result of our internal retention efforts, as well as the overall slowdown of the external job market.
+Added: This lower turnover rate in 2023 resulted in a decreased need to hire externally.
+Added: For the year ended December 31, 2023, we hired 149 employees globally.
+Added: This compares to the 407 employees that we hired in 2022.
+Added: We have a formalized employee referral program in place as we have found that employees who join us through employee referrals are a good cultural fit and remain with us longer than those who have no personal connection to us.
+Added: Approximately one-third of our hires in 2023 came from employee referrals.
+Added: The average time to fill a position in 2023 was just over 31 days.
+Added: Our employee management process includes conducting exit interviews with all employees that leave us voluntarily.
+Added: The data obtained from this questionnaire and an in-person exit interview is referenced when creating and updating benefit plans and other employee offerings.
+Added: Our recognition program, “Real Time Rewards”, which was launched in 2022 and continued in 2023, reinforces our “thank you culture.” Our employees are able to recognize the achievements and contributions of their teammates, peers, and managers.
+Added: In 2023, approximately 3,000 such awards were given, whereby 48% of our employees were recognized and rewarded for their contributions.
These rewards are comprised of both monetary and non-monetary awards and are also used to recognize service anniversaries, birthdays, and other notable events.
−Removed: Like many companies in our industry, voluntary attrition has increased significantly compared to prior years.
−Removed: We continue to review the reasons provided by departing employees and have taken a number of actions to address these concerns, including expanding our Learning and Development programs, introducing Leadership Development for all levels of management and others, and establishing an annual focal compensation review, resulting in salary increases to remain competitive in local markets.
−Removed: In addition, we continue to benchmark employee benefits and welfare programs.
−Removed: All of these enhancements are to ensure we retain our key employees in a very competitive global employment market and provide additional targeted employee engagement in regional locations or functions with higher attrition.
Learning and Development (L&D) .
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Our strong L&D programs deliver employee empowerment, boost workplace engagement and relationships, and retain talent.
−Removed: These learning programs utilize a combination of in-person and online curriculum and include core modules, some of which are mandatory, relating to ethical conduct, products and services, cyber security, safety, human rights and anti-corruption, as well as additional tailored programs on topics such as leadership, management, excellence in service, project management and competency development.
−Removed: In 2022, we delivered more than 20 live training webinars, 10 manager/leader development programs, and approximately 13 training hours per employee across our workforce, an increase from approximately 11 hours in 2021.
+Added: These learning programs utilize a combination of in-person and online curriculum and include core modules, some of which are mandatory, relating to ethical conduct, products and services, cybersecurity, safety, human rights and anti-corruption, as well as additional tailored programs on topics such as leadership, management, excellence in service, project management and competency development.
+Added: In 2023, we delivered more than 21 live training webinars, 4 manager/leader development programs, 6 Excellence in Service Programs and approximately 13 training hours per employee across our workforce, matching the total hours in 2022.
Safety, Health and Well-being.
−Removed: We strive for a workplace that is free of hazards for our employees.
−Removed: We take care to comply with applicable safety regulations and have a strong track record for safety which we reinforce through regular training modules in all of our locations.
−Removed: In 2022, Ribbon launched global Employee Assistance Programs (“EAP”) to employees and their families in all countries in which Ribbon operates.
−Removed: The EAP is a confidential support service that can help our employees and their dependents at no cost.
−Removed: The EAP Care Access Centre can be contacted toll-free, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
−Removed: As a company that advocates a healthy and balanced lifestyle, we launched the Ribbon Wellness Program which is available to Ribbon employees and their families.
+Added: Our objective is to provide a safe and hazard-free work environment for all employees.
+Added: Compliance with applicable safety regulations is a top priority and we strive to maintain our strong track record for safety, which continues to be reinforced through regular training modules at all of our locations.
+Added: Also, we regularly promotes our Employee Assistance Program (the “EAP”) that is offered to all employees and their families which provides customized sessions to meet varying needs globally.
+Added: The EAP is a confidential support service to help our employees and their dependents at no cost to our employees.
+Added: In addition, as a company consistently advocating for a healthy, balanced lifestyle, we offer a Wellness Program, which is available to all of our employees and their families.
This program includes a variety of monthly wellness related topics delivered through activities such as webinars, exercise sessions, and engaging challenges.
−Removed: Topics covered in 2022 included healthy nutrition, stress management, fitness and physical health, as well as mental and emotional health.
−Removed: As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we instituted a phased return to occupancy plan that provided for a gradual return of employees to our offices (typically two to three days per week) based on the conditions in the geographic region and in alignment with local regulations.
−Removed: In the second half of 2022, we adopted a Hybrid Work Model where employees spend a minimum of two days per week working from a Ribbon office to encourage collaboration, innovation, and socialization, but maintain the flexibility to work remotely as well.
−Removed: We have received positive feedback from employees who appreciate the flexibility Ribbon offers and how it has improved their work-life balance.
−Removed: We continue to provide regular communications to our employees to update them on our policies and maintain a COVID-19 resource site that includes information and resources on working from home and links to official resources from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, and others.
+Added: In 2023, we continued our Hybrid Work Model where employees spend a minimum of two days per week working from one of our offices.
+Added: This encourages collaboration, innovation, and socialization while maintaining the flexibility to work remotely as well.
Community Investment .
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Ribbon also sponsors events and campaigns that support organizations such as the American Heart Association, Make a Wish Foundation, and the United Way.
−Removed: In addition, since 2010, we have provided a day
−Removed: of paid time off for all employees to participate in our Global Day of Service, during which employees and their families are encouraged to volunteer and contribute to local charitable organizations in their communities.
+Added: In addition, since 2010, we have provided a day of paid time off for all employees to participate in our Global Day of Service, during which employees and their families are encouraged to volunteer and contribute to local charitable organizations in their communities.
For additional information on Ribbon’s talent and our current engagement activities, please see our most recent sustainability report, which is available at ribboncommunications.com/company/company-policies/sustainability-report.
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Our ESG materiality study reviewed the expectations and requirements of both our stakeholders and our competitors to focus on the ESG practices that are most critical to our business and those where we believe we can make the largest positive impact.
−Removed: From this materiality study, we published a strategy which we believe will positively impact our future environmental performance, and deliver social benefits for our customers, employees and society at large.
+Added: From this materiality study, we published a strategy, which we review with the Board of Directors from time to time, which we believe will positively impact our future environmental performance, and deliver social benefits for our customers, employees and society at large.
Additionally, we believe the governance improvements made as a result of our strategy will result in enhancements in our accountability and that of our suppliers and partners.
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Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) , are available free of charge through the SEC's Internet site ( http://www.sec.gov ) or our Internet site ( http://www.ribboncommunications.com ) as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
−Removed: Information contained
−Removed: on, or that can be accessed through, our website does not constitute a part of this annual report and is not incorporated by reference herein.
+Added: Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website does not constitute a part of this annual report and is not incorporated by reference herein.
Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.