The content team at Channel Partners tracks stories of interest to the technology advisor and wider channel communities. Anyone selling communication and connectivity solutions will want to stay abreast of these developing stories or catch up on ones they have missed. All links are valid as of June 3.
Ingram Micro Wards Off Cloud Marketplace Threat
Technology distributor Ingram Micro reported double-digit growth last quarter, with net sales up 14% and gross profit increasing almost 12% year over year. The growth was driven by rising hardware prices and expansion in its cloud and cybersecurity business, according to a recent report from Omdia. Ingram’s success comes amid upheaval in the distribution channel as hyperscaler marketplaces have diverted the traditional pipeline running from vendors to distributors to partners and clients. The three largest cloud providers — AWS, Microsoft and Google — have become de facto distributors, selling technology directly to customers, while Ingram Micro and its peers strive to maintain their middleman role. Read the Channel Dive story.
Anthropic’s IPO Filing and Its Responsible AI Stance
AI model provider Anthropic submitted a draft registration statement for an IPO. The move underscores the generative AI vendor’s success but also creates tension around its ethical commitments. The filing comes after the Claude creator revealed on May 28 that its valuation had shot up to $965 billion following a $65 billion Series H funding round, surpassing rival OpenAI's $852 billion valuation. Read the AI Business story.
Erin Brockovich Goes After Data Centers
Erin Brockovich, the environmental activist who won $333 million for hundreds of people affected by utility company PG&E’s groundwater contamination, is now turning her focus to data centers. Her latest project, Brockovich AI Data Center Reporting, is helping tackle one of the fastest-growing environmental concerns today: the proliferation of data centers in the U.S. Read the Fortune story.
Optimum Moves to Protect Eastern Assets in Debt Standoff
Optimum’s battle with its creditors just took an interesting turn as the operator maneuvered to protect its Optimum East Cable and Lightpath footprints. Optimum created a subsidiary called CSC Investments II LLC, which will serve as a holding company for its Optimum East Cable footprint as well as its 50.1% stake in long-haul fiber provider Lightpath. Doing so will keep these assets safe from the consequences of any default on its debts, the company said. The move could bring its lenders back to the negotiating table. Read about it on Fierce Network.
EchoStar delays $183M interest payment as it waits to cash in on AT&T deal
EchoStar said it has elected not to make a $183 million interest payment that was due Monday on notes secured by its Dish DBS subsidiary – maturing in 2026, 2028, and 2029 – as it awaits proceeds from its proposed spectrum sale to AT&T. In an 8-K document, EchoStar acknowledged that this constitutes a default but pointed out that it has a 30-day grace period to make the interest payment. Read about it on Light Reading.
Cisco: AI Driving 'Network Super Cycle'
The shift toward AI and a barrage of new traffic-generating agentic AI systems will require significant changes at data centers, on service provider networks and throughout other parts of the telecom ecosystem, top Cisco execs said at the company's annual Cisco Live event in Las Vegas. See the Light Reading story.
Enterprise AI Implementation is Growing – so are Challenges
As enterprises build and deploy generative AI applications and AI agents, they seem to have set aside concerns about the technology. However, beneath the facade of adoption lies a hidden truth about the obstacles businesses face as they try to move from generative AI applications to fully automated systems. Businesses still face significant questions about measuring ROI, how much to invest and how to account for costs when AI goes wrong. There's also figuring out how to bring employees along and how to work through technology basics, such as product lifecycle management. Read the AI Business story.
AWS Exec: Telcos Must Think Bigger About Network Autonomy
Telcos have been on the network automation journey for years, but the leap from automation to autonomy is a big one. One key hurdle to bridging that gap is the lack of a broader vision among telcos of how to go from process level automation to domain level autonomy, according to AWS Global Director for Telco Solutions Amir Rao. Read the Fierce Network story.
HPE Q2 Earnings Call Highlights Faster AI, Networking Push
HPE used its fiscal second-quarter call to make a broader point than a simple beat-and-raise. Management argued that demand is holding up across networking, servers and AI systems, with backlog strength giving it enough confidence to outline fiscal 2027 targets as well. The quarter’s headline numbers were strong, but the more significant takeaway was management’s outlook for the periods ahead. Executives said Juniper integration, Catalyst savings and AI-related demand are moving faster than expected. Read the Zacks story.