Weak technical leadership and poor culture following Sprint integration
Pros
Cogent has solid network assets and some highly capable engineers and technicians who work hard to keep the infrastructure running. Many people on the technical side genuinely care about the stability and performance of the network.
Cons
After joining through the Sprint merger, it quickly became clear that the organization lacked the technical leadership necessary to manage and operate a large-scale fiber network effectively. Many operational decisions were made without sufficient technical input or understanding of the fundamentals of fiber transport and carrier-grade infrastructure. The integration between the legacy Sprint environment and Cogent operations appeared rushed and poorly coordinated. Processes were frequently created on the fly, and teams were asked to implement changes without proper planning or technical review. This led to repeated operational challenges and inefficiencies. Leadership communication also reflected a lack of professional management standards. On multiple company-wide calls, senior leaders—including vice presidents—used excessive profanity while addressing staff. Instead of inspiring confidence or direction, these interactions often highlighted a lack of leadership discipline and professionalism. Morale across teams appeared very low, and many employees were actively looking for opportunities elsewhere. The environment felt reactive and disorganized, making it difficult for technical teams to perform effectively.
