The Globix Story

Founded in 1989 by Marc Bell, Globix Corporation was a leading provider of Internet connectivity and advanced Internet services for businesses globally. Through its 28,000 mile high-speed, fault-tolerant, fiber-optic network and state-of-the-art Internet Data Centers around the globe, Globix delivered superior reliability, security and performance to companies using the Internet to deploy mission-critical business strategies. Cutting-edge applications included Dedicated Access, Co-Location, Web Hosting, Streaming Media, E-Commerce, Application Development and Corporate Training. Customers included Microsoft, Deutsche Bank, iWon, Acclaim Entertainment, Clear Channel, Walmart, NY Post, Ebookers, EDGAR Online, ITN, Salvation Army, Major League Soccer, VNU, American Red Cross, BEA Systems, Comedy Central, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Charming Shoppes, Lifetime TV and more. Globix was a major player in a new industry in a rapidly developing global marketplace. Its impact was significant and its legacy lives on. 

Globix History

The Globix story begins in 1989 with the formation of NAFT International Ltd., an Apple Value Added Reseller (VAR) which grew to become New York City’s largest publishing VAR. Four years later Stellar Graphics was created as a newspaper print broker and pre-production facility, printing over 60 newspapers a week. In 1994, following his passion for gaming, Marc Bell created GameNet, the first multiplayer online service dedicated to Macintosh games.

Advances in technology and increased demand for business Internet applications led to the formation of new businesses in 1995. NAFT Computer Services Corp. was a service, support and training operation that also provided depot and on-site repair services, the largest computer repair facility of its kind in NYC. PFM Communications, whose business became the main business of Globix later on, offered sophisticated Internet connectivity for direct, high-speed Internet connections and hosting at a state-of-the-art Network Operations Center. Bluestreak (formerly Stellar Graphics) produced broadcast quality 2D and 3D animation, interactive CD-ROM presentations and high-impact web sites.

In 1996 Bell Technology was formed as the parent company for all of Marc Bell’s holdings. An initial public offering raised net proceeds of approximately $7.4 million. Rapid expansion mirrored the rapid growth of the Internet as an essential business tool. The company became Globix in 1998 and completed a $160 million debt financing to fund the expansion of facilities and acquisitions. The headquarters was moved from the Puck Building to 139 Centre Street, New York City.

Internet Data Centers were opened in California and London, paving the way for global expansion. A public offering of 16 million shares of its common stock, resulted in net proceeds of $137 million. By 2000 Globix had over 28,000 miles of fiber around the world and over 1 million square feet of Internet Data Center Space – it was the world’s largest logical peer with a market cap in excess of $2.5 billion.

Globix Team
Work as hard as you play! That was the motto for Team Globix.

Timeline

  • 1989

    NAFT International Ltd.

    Created to sell hardware, software and peripherals. Grew to become Apple’s largest Value Added Reseller in NYC specializing in pre-press for publishing, advertising and printing. Expands to include advanced computers from Silicon Graphics, Sun and Integraph, and moves from publishing to 3D imaging systems.
  • 1993

    Stellar Graphics Corp.

    Formed as a newspaper print broker and pre-production facility, Stellar printed over 60 newspapers every week in NYC.
  • 1994

    1994 GameNet

    Debuted as the first multiplayer online service dedicated to Macintosh games.
  • 1995

    NAFT Computer Services Corp.

    Primarily a service, support and training operation created in response to the need to learn about new technologies; included a large classroom facility in NYC. Also provided depot and on-site repair services making it the largest computer repair facility of its kind in NYC.

    PFM Communications, Inc.

    A diversified Internet solutions provider in New York City, offered sophisticated Internet connectivity for direct, high-speed connections and World Wide Web hosting at state-of-the-art Network Operations Center. Also offered a complete range of Internet consulting services.

    Bluestreak Digital, Inc.

    Stellar Graphics, now called Bluestreak, produced broadcast quality 2D and 3D animation, interactive CD-ROM presentations and high-impact web sites. Employed designers and animators using advanced production tools such as SoftImage, Alias/Wavefront, Macromedia Authorware and Director. Built one of few motion capture studios in New York City area.
  • 1996

    Bell Technology Group

    Formed as the parent company for all of Marc Bell’s holdings including NAFT, PFM, GameNet and Bluestreak. Raised net proceeds of approximately $7.4 million through an initial public offering of its common stock.
  • 1997

    Bell Expansion

    Expanded product and service offerings beyond Internet access to offer a range of end-to-end Internet solutions designed to enable its customers to more effectively capitalize on the Internet as a business tool.
  • 1998

    Globix Corporation

    Company name changed to Globix. Undertook major expansion to aggressively pursue opportunities resulting from tremendous growth of the Internet. Completed a $160 million debt financing to fund expansion of facilities and acquisition and build-out of its network backbone. Purchased building at 139 Centre Street, NYC adding 160,000 square feet of floor space. Leased a 60,000 sq. ft. campus in Santa Clara, CA.
  • 1999

    Globix Growth

    Opened 14,000 square foot Center in London increasing total Internet Data Center capacity to 63,000 square feet. Completed a public offering of 16,000,000 shares of its common stock, resulting in net proceeds of $137 million.
  • 2000

    Globix Global Expansion

    Completed a $600 million debt financing to fund continued expansion of facilities and network. Globix had over 28,000 miles of fiber around the world and over 1 million square feet of Internet Data Center Space. Became the world’s largest logical peer with a market cap in excess of $2.5 billion.
Globix Team

The Globix Difference

Globix: Technically Speaking

  • A network with extraordinary robustness & reliability, supported by the best network administrators and system engineers in the business
  • Support for all your Internet services requirements, from Leased Lines to Web Hosting and Co-location
  • 100% Cisco-powered network throughout all core and border routers and switches
  • Outstanding customer service and technical support, including your own personal Internet Consultant and the Globix Support Team
  • Superior equipment and integration services
  • Convenient, comprehensive training services 24/7

The robust backbone & size of our infrastructure enables us to offer customers a range of high-tech security features:

  • Data Encryption transmits data securely from one office location to another by ‘coding’ the data until it reaches its designated end user.
  • Distributed Web-Hosting allows Globix to simultaneously host your site in more than one location. Protecting your service during emergency and disaster situations.
  • Full Redundancy in everything from our Network power supply to our peering points and multiple, high-speed OC-48 Internet connections via major networks, provide your company with round-the-clock reliability and continuous service.
  • Globix offers tier-1 service and expands operations worldwide
  • All across the globe our Network delivers unequalled service
  • Multiple SuperPOPs & peering relationships create quick transmission time
  • Our OC-48 SONET ring architecture provides service redundancy and ensures 24 x 7 reliability
  • Optional features, such as Distributed Web-Hosting protect your network during disasters

Globix Network

The Globix reach stretched across the globe as new SuperPOPs (Points of Presence) opened in Santa Clara and London, with additional POPs in US and European cities. The Globix Network connected these Internet Data Centers with leveraged public and private peering relationships at all major peering points, as shown on the map. Globix became the Internet provider of choice for live video streaming, high speed commerce, and online trading – when every millisecond counted. Rapid expansion met the growing demand for the fiber-based backbone that cut through Internet traffic to offer unparalleled service.

  • Superpop
  • Access Pop
  • Satellite Teleport
  • Access / Data Center Pop
  • Network Access Point or Internet Exchange
  • New York and London each have two superpop locations, these Locations and the Santa Clara Superpop employ Metropolitan Area Network Rings to link together various locations in the area.
  • OC-48, STM-16 (2.5 Gbps)
  • Gigabit Ethernet (1Gbps)
  • OC-12C (622Mbps)
  • OC-3, STM-1 (155Mbps)
  • Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
  • DS-3 (45Mbps)
Globix - The Global Internet Exchange

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Globix Timeline