The top 10 stories of 2009

This year was a momentous year in telecom; here’s what we were writing – and you were reading – in 2009. We count down our most-read stories from number 10 down to the year’s most popular story.

10. AT&T, Verizon facing 2009 slowdown
We all began the year worrying about just how deep the recession would hit the industry in 2009. As the year began, both AT&T and Verizon warned they saw business slowing, and they’d be slowing spending in kind.

9. How Nortel's bankruptcy could change vendor landscape
The end of one of the industry’s biggest vendors led to a year of stories as the company was sold off in piece-parts.

8. Victims of success
A column that puts a face on the cost that consolidation – and job loss – has had on the telecom industry.

7. What the broadband stimulus package means to rural telcos
One of the biggest stories of the year was the government’s attempt to kick-start the economy by funding telecom spending – unfortunately (although this wouldn’t be known until later) many telcos actually spent less while trying to decipher the rules and waiting for the award.

6. MetroPCS lures Sprint, Verizon subs with ‘bring your phone’
2009 was the year of subscribers cutting their phone bills – in particular mobile bills – by whatever means necessary, bringing new levels of competition among operators.

5. Can Jack make VoIP Magic?
Our old standby – late-night infomercial viewers looking for almost free calling still drop by to read our original 2007 story on Magic Jack.

4. AT&T 'hopeful' despite CWA strike authorization
Strike talk still strikes a chord with our core readers.

Next Page: The Top 3 Stories of 2009