Our primary service offering consists of Internet access and data transport offered over our award-winning fiber optic, IP data-only network, along with colocation in any of our 86 Internet data centers.
We service two customer segments: "corporate" (small businesses to Fortune 100 companies) and "netcentric" (carriers / service providers and application / content providers, whose businesses rely primarily on Internet access).
Our innovative, facilities-based network spans six continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. With over 97,387 route miles of intercity fiber and more than 191,448 metro fiber miles, we provide service to over 251 major markets and interconnect with over 8,135 other networks.
Cogent was founded on the premise that bandwidth can be treated like a commodity - produce mass amounts and position it for sale based on price. Leveraging new technologies, we built our own IP data network independent of the traditional voice-based networks owned by the RBOCs (regional bell operating companies). By doing so, we believed we could reduce the cost of high quality bandwidth down to a level never before offered in the marketplace. Today, we are widely recognized as one of the largest carriers of Internet traffic in the world.
Dave Schaeffer
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Dave Schaeffer founded Cogent Communications in August 1999 and is the Chief Executive Officer. Under Mr. Schaeffer's leadership, Cogent has become one of the world's largest Internet Providers. Mr. Schaeffer has led the efforts of 13 successful acquisitions, propelling Cogent's originally U.S.-based network into Canada, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. Mr. Schaeffer has successfully founded and operated six other businesses prior to Cogent. These businesses span a wide array of industries from communications to commercial real estate. His diverse background and entrepreneurial successes have enabled him to build management teams that constructed and operate the only facilities-based, non-oversubscribed multinational network of its kind. In 2019, Mr. Schaeffer was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year® in Media, Entertainment and Telecommunications.
Tad Weed
Chief Financial Officer
Thaddeus “Tad” Weed joined Cogent in 2000 and served as Vice President and Controller. In May 2004 he became our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer until May 2020 when he assumed the new role of Senior Vice President of Audit & Operations. Under this position he implemented numerous process improvements and achieved substantial cost savings for Cogent. In May 2022, he reassumed his position as Cogent’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Weed served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer at Transaction Network Services, where he undertook a broad range of financial management responsibilities. From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Weed was employed at Arthur Andersen LLP where he served as Senior Audit Manager.
