RETN

RETN is an international telecommunications and internet service provider headquartered in London. The company operates a high-capacity network linking Europe, the Eurasian region, Asia, and the United States, serving wholesale carriers, content providers, internet platforms, enterprises, and other communications customers. Its network is designed to connect major European telecommunications hubs with routes extending eastward through Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, and toward China and Southeast Asia. The business originated in the early 2000s as a cross-border connectivity project involving the Saint Petersburg operators PeterStar and Eltel. The initial objective was to improve links between the Russian internet and Western Europe. A RETN point of presence in Helsinki became operational in 2003. After PeterStar left the project in 2005 following its acquisition by Synterra, Dmitry Samarin, then associated with Eltel, developed RETN as an independent company. The business initially leased network capacity and then began investing in its own backbone infrastructure from 2007 onward. RETN expanded rapidly across Europe and the eastern United States. By 2008, it had established points of presence in several European locations and in the United States. That year, the company was acquired by the Cyprus-based company Nateco. RETN subsequently pursued a pan-European network architecture intended to provide more resilient connectivity between Russia and Western Europe. A dense wavelength-division multiplexing, or DWDM, network based on a Scandinavian and Ukrainian route was commissioned in February 2010, creating a redundant connection between European Russia and major European internet exchanges. The company’s service portfolio includes wholesale IP transit, Ethernet connectivity, virtual private networks, long-haul capacity, remote access to internet exchange points, colocation, cloud connectivity, distributed-denial-of-service mitigation, and other network security services. Enterprise offerings include managed global private networks, BGP connectivity, One Port services, and cybersecurity solutions. RETN operates its backbone using both optical transport and IP/MPLS technologies, with equipment and platforms supplied by major network infrastructure vendors. RETN has maintained an international operating structure, with offices and network facilities in locations including London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Although its historical development was closely connected with Russia and the Eurasian telecommunications corridor, the company re-registered in the United Kingdom in 2016 and established its corporate headquarters in London. Its network operations function remained in Moscow for a period after the re-registration. The company has also developed relationships with internet exchange points and telecommunications ecosystems, including partnerships associated with DE-CIX, LINX, ESPANIX, BIX, and Namex. In 2021, Tony O’Sullivan became chief executive officer after succeeding Dmitry Samarin, who continued as chairman. RETN’s current positioning is that of a specialist international network operator focused on resilient cross-border connectivity, enterprise networking, carrier services, and access to internet infrastructure rather than consumer broadband.

RETN developed from an early-2000s collaboration between Saint Petersburg telecommunications operators PeterStar and Eltel. The project was created to improve connectivity between the Russian internet and Western Europe. A point of presence in Helsinki was opened in 2003, marking an early step in the company’s international expansion. PeterStar left the project in 2005 after being acquired by Synterra. Dmitry Samarin, who had been associated with Eltel, then established RETN as an independent business. In its first phase, RETN relied on leased capacity. From 2007, however, the company began constructing and operating more of its own backbone, allowing it to develop a cross-border network rather than functioning solely as a capacity reseller. By 2008, RETN had points of presence across Europe and on the east coast of the United States. The same year, the company was acquired by Nateco, a Cyprus-based company. RETN also announced a pan-European ring designed to connect Russia and Western Europe through Scandinavia and Ukraine. The network plan reflected RETN’s strategic emphasis on geographically diverse routes and on the Eurasian corridor between European and Asian telecommunications markets. In February 2010, RETN commissioned a DWDM network that provided a redundant connection between European Russia and important European internet exchanges. This optical transport infrastructure complemented the company’s expanding IP/MPLS backbone. RETN subsequently developed operations in Russia, Ukraine, Western Europe, and other international markets. A reported 2012 interest from Rostelecom did not result in an acquisition. The company reorganized its legal and corporate structure in 2016 by re-registering as a British company and placing its headquarters in London. Its network operations center remained in Moscow for a period, reflecting the continuing importance of its original Eurasian operating base. RETN later expanded its international office presence to include major European and Asian telecommunications centers such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. RETN’s business evolved from international backbone construction into a broader portfolio of carrier, content, cloud, and enterprise services. Its offerings include IP transit, Ethernet and VPN connectivity, capacity, remote peering, colocation, cloud access, DDoS mitigation, managed private networks, BGP solutions, One Port services, and cybersecurity. The company’s network uses DWDM and IP/MPLS technologies and reaches from Western and Eastern Europe toward the Chinese border and Southeast Asia through terrestrial routes. RETN has pursued connectivity partnerships with internet exchange points including DE-CIX, LINX, ESPANIX, BIX, and Namex. In 2021, Tony O’Sullivan, who had joined RETN in 2007 and later served as chief operating officer, became chief executive officer. Dmitry Samarin remained chairman. RETN is therefore best understood as an international wholesale and enterprise network operator whose identity is rooted in cross-border infrastructure, resilient routes, and connectivity between European, Eurasian, Asian, and North American networks.

1. 2021Leadership transition

   Tony O'Sullivan became chief executive officer, succeeding Dmitry Samarin, who remained chairman.

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2. 2016Corporate re-registration in the United Kingdom

   RETN re-registered as a British company and moved its corporate headquarters to London.

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3. 2010Redundant DWDM network commissioned

   A DWDM network linking European Russia with major European internet exchanges entered service.

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4. 2008International expansion and acquisition

   RETN expanded its points of presence across Europe and the United States and was acquired by Nateco.

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5. 2007Backbone construction begins

   RETN moved beyond primarily leasing capacity and began building its own backbone infrastructure.

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6. 2005RETN becomes independent

   After PeterStar was acquired by Synterra and exited the project, Dmitry Samarin founded RETN as an independent company.

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7. 2003Helsinki point of presence opens

   RETN opened a point of presence in Helsinki as part of its initial international network development.

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8. 2002RETN originates as a cross-border connectivity project

   Saint Petersburg operators PeterStar and Eltel began a project to connect the Russian internet with Western Europe.

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A specialist international telecommunications and backbone-network provider focused on resilient connectivity between Europe, Eurasia, Asia, and North America for carriers, content networks, cloud platforms, and enterprises.

• IP TransitWholesale internet connectivity

  RETN provides IP transit for carriers, content networks, internet service providers, and other organizations that require access to global internet routes. The service uses RETN’s international backbone to connect customer networks with destinations across Europe, Eurasia, Asia, and North America.

• Ethernet and VPN ServicesEnterprise and carrier connectivity

  Ethernet and VPN solutions provide private or managed connectivity between customer sites, data centers, offices, and network hubs. These services support enterprise wide-area networking as well as carrier and wholesale applications requiring controlled, reliable international transport.

• International CapacityNetwork capacity

  RETN sells international capacity across its long-haul backbone. The offering is based on optical transport and IP/MPLS infrastructure and is intended for telecommunications operators, content providers, cloud businesses, and large enterprises needing cross-border bandwidth.

• Remote Peering and Flex IXInternet exchange access

  Remote peering services allow customers to reach major internet exchange points without deploying equipment at every exchange location. RETN’s Flex IX offering is part of this broader access model, helping networks exchange traffic through established internet infrastructure and improve routing efficiency.

• Managed Global Private NetworkManaged enterprise networking

  Managed Global Private Network services are designed for enterprises that need a provider-operated private wide-area network across multiple countries. RETN manages connectivity over its international infrastructure, supporting distributed offices, data centers, and business applications.

• Cloud ConnectivityCloud networking

  RETN connects enterprise and network customers to cloud environments through its backbone and data-center footprint. The service is intended to provide controlled access to cloud platforms while reducing dependence on unmanaged public internet paths.

• DDoS Mitigation and CybersecurityNetwork security

  RETN offers distributed-denial-of-service mitigation and related cybersecurity services to protect connected networks and online services. These capabilities complement its connectivity portfolio for enterprises, carriers, content providers, and internet-facing businesses.

• 2021Chief executive successionOther

  After leading RETN for many years, Dmitry Samarin transitioned out of the chief executive role.

  What changed. Tony O'Sullivan became CEO, while Samarin continued as chairman.

  Aftermath. The leadership change preserved continuity while placing day-to-day executive leadership with a long-serving RETN executive.

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• 2016Re-registration as a British companyStrategy

  RETN had developed from a Russia-centered project into an international carrier and enterprise network operator.

  What changed. The company re-registered in the United Kingdom and established its headquarters in London while retaining network operations in Moscow for a period.

  Aftermath. The change formalized RETN’s international corporate identity and London-centered headquarters structure.

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• 2010Commissioning of the redundant DWDM platformGeneration change

  RETN needed higher-capacity and more resilient optical transport between its Eurasian operating base and European internet hubs.

  What changed. The company placed a DWDM network into service across its pan-European route design.

  Aftermath. The platform became part of RETN’s dual DWDM and IP/MPLS network architecture.

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• 2008Development of a pan-European ringStrategy

  RETN sought to strengthen connectivity between Russia and Western Europe and reduce dependence on a single international route.

  What changed. The company announced a ring network running through Scandinavia and Ukraine, later commissioning associated DWDM infrastructure.

  Aftermath. The resulting network architecture provided a more redundant connection between European Russia and major European internet exchanges.

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• 2021Tony O'Sullivan succeeds Dmitry Samarin as CEO

  Tony O'Sullivan became RETN's chief executive officer, while Dmitry Samarin remained chairman.

  Leadership change
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• 2016RETN re-registers as a British company

  RETN re-registered in the United Kingdom and established its corporate headquarters in London while retaining a network operations center in Moscow.

  Other
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• 2010RETN's redundant DWDM network enters service

  The company commissioned a DWDM network intended to provide a redundant connection between European Russia and major European internet exchanges.

  Product launch
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• 2008RETN launches a pan-European ring network project

  RETN announced plans for a pan-European ring connecting Russia with Western Europe through Scandinavian and Ukrainian routes.

  Product launch
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1. RETN Networks
2. RETN official website