TW Telecom
TW Telecom was a United States business telecommunications provider known for metropolitan Ethernet, fiber transport, Internet, voice, data, and wholesale network services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
TW Telecom was a United States business telecommunications company headquartered in Littleton, Colorado. The company supplied communications infrastructure and managed connectivity primarily to medium and large enterprises, telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers, and government organizations. Its service portfolio included business voice, Internet access, data networking, transport, metropolitan Ethernet, and wholesale fiber capacity. The business began in 1993 as Time Warner Communications, a joint venture between US West and Time Warner Cable, then part of Time Warner Entertainment. Its initial concept involved delivering data and telecommunications services over hybrid fiber-and-coaxial networks. Although the network strategy demonstrated commercial potential, the cost of extending fiber directly to individual homes made a consumer-focused buildout difficult to operate profitably. The company consequently moved toward a carrier-focused model during the mid-1990s, selling dark-fiber capacity to other telecommunications and Internet providers and helping them extend their own networks. As Internet usage expanded, the company developed and assembled a national fiber network. Management eventually concluded that wholesale capacity alone would not provide the desired growth platform, so TW Telecom added communications solutions and managed services for business customers. In 1997 it began delivering communications services to medium and large businesses, carriers, and governmental entities. This shift made the company a hybrid network operator and service provider rather than only a wholesale fiber business. The company became a separate entity in July 1998 and was reorganized as Time Warner Telecom LLC. It completed an initial public offering in May 1999. One of its best-known technological developments arrived in March 2003, when it introduced Metro Ethernet services. These services extended the Ethernet networking model beyond individual buildings and across connected metropolitan rings, allowing customer locations within a city or region to communicate over a unified network. Metro Ethernet supported the delivery of integrated Internet, data, and voice services and became a central element of the company's market identity. Expansion also came through acquisition. In July 2006, Time Warner Telecom acquired Xspedius Communications for approximately $531.5 million, adding metropolitan markets and broadening the company's operating footprint to 75 markets across the United States. The acquisition strengthened its ability to sell regional connectivity and managed communications services to enterprise and carrier customers. The brand name changed on July 1, 2008, when Time Warner Telecom became TW Telecom. The company had used the Time Warner Telecom name under an agreement with Time Warner Inc.; when that agreement was not renewed, management selected the initials “tw” to preserve continuity with the established brand while separating the operating company from the former parent company's name. On June 16, 2014, TW Telecom agreed to be acquired by Level 3 Communications in a transaction valued at $5.7 billion in cash and stock. The acquisition closed on November 1, 2014, ending TW Telecom as an independent company and integrating its network and services into Level 3. Exactly three years later, CenturyLink acquired Level 3 Communications. CenturyLink subsequently adopted the Lumen Technologies name, placing the former TW Telecom assets within the broader Lumen network and enterprise-services organization.
History
TW Telecom originated in 1993 as Time Warner Communications, a joint venture between US West and Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment. The venture was established to provide data and telecommunications services over a hybrid fiber-and-coaxial network. Its original consumer-oriented network ambitions encountered an economic limitation: extending fiber directly to homes was too expensive to produce acceptable returns. During the mid-1990s, the company therefore developed a carrier-focused business model, selling dark-fiber capacity to telecommunications and Internet providers that needed to supplement their own infrastructure. The company helped support the expansion of Internet connectivity by building and assembling a national fiber network. To broaden its commercial base, it moved beyond wholesale capacity and began offering integrated communications solutions. In 1997, it started serving medium and large businesses, carriers, and government entities. In July 1998, Time Warner Communications became a separate entity and was reorganized as Time Warner Telecom LLC. The company went public through an initial public offering in May 1999. A major service milestone came in March 2003 with the introduction of Metro Ethernet. Rather than limiting Ethernet to a single building, the service linked locations across metropolitan areas through connected Ethernet rings. This architecture allowed the company to provide coordinated Internet, data, and voice services across a city or region and reinforced its role as an early metropolitan-Ethernet provider. Time Warner Telecom expanded geographically and operationally through its July 2006 acquisition of Xspedius Communications for approximately $531.5 million. The transaction added metropolitan markets and contributed to a footprint of 75 US markets. The company continued serving enterprise, carrier, and public-sector customers with network transport, fiber capacity, Internet, voice, and data services. On July 1, 2008, the company changed its name to TW Telecom. The previous Time Warner Telecom designation had been used under an agreement with Time Warner Inc., which declined to renew permission to use the name. The new identity used the initials “tw” to preserve brand recognition without continuing to rely on the full Time Warner name. TW Telecom ceased to be independent after agreeing on June 16, 2014, to be acquired by Level 3 Communications for $5.7 billion in cash and stock. The transaction closed on November 1, 2014. On November 1, 2017, exactly three years after the TW Telecom closing, CenturyLink acquired Level 3 Communications. CenturyLink later became Lumen Technologies, and the former TW Telecom network and service operations became part of that larger enterprise communications platform.
- 2017
Level 3 becomes part of CenturyLink
[1]CenturyLink acquired Level 3 Communications, bringing the former TW Telecom operations into its broader network organization.
- 2014
Acquired by Level 3 Communications
[1]Level 3 completed its acquisition of TW Telecom on November 1, ending the company's independent corporate existence.
- 2008
Adopts the TW Telecom name
[1]The company replaced the Time Warner Telecom name after its naming agreement with Time Warner Inc. was not renewed.
- 2006
Acquires Xspedius Communications
[1]The approximately $531.5 million acquisition expanded the company's metropolitan-market presence.
- 2003
Introduces Metro Ethernet
[1]The company launched metropolitan Ethernet services that extended Ethernet connectivity across linked city or regional network rings.
- 1999
Initial public offering
[1]Time Warner Telecom completed an initial public offering.
- 1998
Reorganized as Time Warner Telecom LLC
[1]Time Warner Communications became a separate entity and was reorganized under the Time Warner Telecom LLC name.
- 1997
Begins serving business and institutional customers
[1]The company began providing communications services to medium and large businesses, carriers, and government entities.
- 1993
Founded as Time Warner Communications
[1]US West and Time Warner Cable formed the company to deliver data and telecommunications services over a hybrid fiber-and-coaxial network.
Products and positioning
A carrier-oriented and enterprise-focused fiber communications provider that combined metropolitan network infrastructure with managed voice, Internet, data, and transport services.
Metropolitan networking · 2003
Metro Ethernet
Metro Ethernet extended Ethernet connectivity beyond individual buildings and across metropolitan areas. By using connected Ethernet rings, TW Telecom could link customer sites within a city or region and support unified Internet, data, and voice services. The offering reflected the company's early role in commercializing metropolitan Ethernet for business and carrier customers.
Wholesale telecommunications infrastructure
Dark fiber and wholesale fiber capacity
TW Telecom sold dark-fiber capacity and other wholesale network capacity to telecommunications and Internet providers. These services allowed carriers to supplement their own networks without constructing every route themselves and formed an important part of the company's mid-1990s transition from a consumer network concept to a carrier-focused business.
Business telecommunications · 1997
Enterprise voice, Internet, data, and transport services
The company provided integrated communications services for medium and large businesses, carriers, and government entities. The portfolio included business voice, Internet access, data connectivity, network transport, and related fiber services, allowing customers to purchase communications solutions alongside underlying network capacity.
Brand decisions
2014
Sale to Level 3 CommunicationsM&ABackground
TW Telecom pursued a transaction that would combine its metropolitan fiber and enterprise communications operations with Level 3's international network platform.
Action taken
TW Telecom agreed to be acquired by Level 3 Communications in cash and stock for a stated value of $5.7 billion. The transaction closed on November 1, 2014.
Aftermath
TW Telecom stopped operating as an independent company and its network and services were integrated into Level 3.
Transaction value. $5.7 billion (2014 agreement and closing)
2008
Rebranding from Time Warner Telecom to TW TelecomStrategyBackground
Time Warner Inc. declined to renew the agreement that allowed the company to use the Time Warner name.
Action taken
The company adopted TW Telecom, retaining the initials to maintain continuity with its established market identity.
Aftermath
The company continued operating under the TW Telecom brand until its acquisition by Level 3 Communications in 2014.
2006
Acquisition of Xspedius CommunicationsM&ABackground
TW Telecom sought to expand its metropolitan-market footprint and strengthen its regional communications infrastructure.
Action taken
The company acquired Xspedius Communications for approximately $531.5 million.
Aftermath
The acquisition added metropolitan markets and supported operations in 75 markets across the United States.
Acquisition value. $531.5 million (2006 acquisition)
2003
Launch of Metro Ethernet servicesProduct launchBackground
The company needed to turn its metropolitan fiber infrastructure into higher-value communications services rather than relying only on wholesale capacity.
Action taken
TW Telecom introduced Metro Ethernet, extending Ethernet networking between locations across metropolitan areas and using the platform to deliver Internet, data, and voice services.
Aftermath
The service became a defining part of the company's enterprise and carrier networking proposition and contributed to its reputation as an early Metro Ethernet provider.
Recent events
- 2017
CenturyLink acquires Level 3 Communications[1]
M&A
CenturyLink acquired Level 3 Communications three years after Level 3 had acquired TW Telecom, placing the former TW Telecom business within CenturyLink's expanded enterprise network operations.
- 2014
TW Telecom agrees to acquisition by Level 3 Communications[1]
M&A
TW Telecom agreed to be purchased by Level 3 Communications in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $5.7 billion.
- 2014
Level 3 completes acquisition of TW Telecom[1]
M&A
The acquisition closed on November 1, 2014, ending TW Telecom's operation as an independent company and combining its network assets and services with Level 3.
- 2008
Time Warner Telecom changes its name to TW Telecom[1]
Other
The company adopted the TW Telecom name after its agreement to use the Time Warner name was not renewed. The initials were selected to retain continuity with the established identity while creating a more independent brand.
Sources1 sources
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