Annual Report
2020
Letter to shareholders
“We are positioning CommScope to be at the forefront, ahead of our competitors; anticipating the needs of our customers to develop technology that transforms our experiences and our lives.” – Chuck Treadway
Lasting connections
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Sustainability is key to lasting connectivity
At CommScope innovation is key to a better, greener connected world – from the smallest component through to how we create lasting networks – we look to transform how we use, recycle and save the earth’s resources.
The small, green, award-winning Liberty Global ‘machine’
Millions of connectors providing lasting connectivity
Phasing out single use plastic
Phillipines to reach further with fiber
Wireless broadband for all
Connecting the remote community
Addressing the digital divide
In 2020 being connected to each other has never felt more precious – sustained in many ways by connectivity technology. But, for the unconnected or even poorly connected, the digital divide deepened. The next generation of wireless and wired technology look to transform the economics and overcome the physical limitations of reaching the unconnected.
5G will deliver more
The evolution of our connected experience
What's the networked future?
Our CTO discusses the evolution and choices we have in a world of multiple technologies that can connect us today and tomorrow to deliver lasting connectivity.
2500 schools in New Zealand go Wi-Fi 6
CBRS network reaches out from campus to home
School for all
CommScope technology is empowering educators across the globe: enabling remote and creative teaching, multimedia learning experiences, connecting students to the world and each other, supporting the management and safety of campuses.
From nice-to-have to must-have
The flexible office
2020 has shifted the work environment in many ways. More systems need to be available and manageable from home; enterprises of all shapes and sizes are reconfiguring to support safer and more flexible working practices.
What’s next for connected work?
Portuguese festival offers top connectivity
Fans will return
There’s nothing quite like the shared experience of being in a crowd. Stadiums and venues have been busy building top-notch connectivity with CommScope so they are ready to deliver the very best fan experience.
Las Vegas looks to redefine the fan experience
Dallas Cowboys beef up LTE/5G connectivity
CommScope and Nokia create space for 5G
stc delivers on 5G with 30-port 5G antennas
CommScope gaining share in the base station antenna market
Smarter moves towards a faster roll out of 5G
CommScope expertise from base station and tower to backhaul brings 5G to market faster.
What is Wi-Fi 6E? In the home
Wi-Fi 6 for the enterprise
CommScope’s contribution to Wi-Fi recognized
Get ready for Wi-Fi 6 and 6E
According to IDC, 16.4 billion Wi-Fi devices were in use in 2020. With Wi-Fi 6 and 6E phones and other devices now in market, a new breed of business and home gateways will be key to a robust Wi-Fi experience.
What’s next for the streamer?
A streamer from your service provider
The video evolution and more in our homes
Full stream ahead
More and more service providers are delivering their content services over broadband using a new breed of small, easy-to-use, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective streamers
Sharing our global know-how
Reliable networks demand reliable expertise
Each year we train thousands of engineers and technicians around the world in every aspect of wired and wireless connectivity. This year, to support our connectivity heroes, the CommScope Infrastructure Academy, opened the virtual classroom doors for free.
Join our engineering team
Opening up DAS and small cell careers for women
The evolving role of the data center
Unlocking the potential of edge computing
Data at the edge
As more people and things get connected, the more data is being generated, processed, stored and access. Edge computing will change networks and experiences.
CommScope and Open RAN
What is Open RAN?
Open radio access networks
Lessons learned. How do you ensure new technology comes to market more equitably? Open RAN initiatives look to help the evolution of wireless/mobile for 5G and beyond.
Green
Digital divide
Future Network
Education
Flexible office
Connected venue
5G
Wi-Fi 6/6E
Streamers
Expertise
Edge computing
Open RAN
Coming soon the 10G cable home
To our shareholders
CommScope achieved solid financial results in 2020 and we are proud of our strong execution in a remarkably challenging business environment. As the pandemic unfolded, our team reacted quickly to adapt and innovate across all aspects of the business ensuring our customers were able to sustain — and even extend — the networking services that have been a lifeline to us in 2020. Across the globe, we pivoted quickly to remote work, put in place robust health and safety systems in our factories and initiated a business continuity program second to none in the industry. Within a matter of weeks, we had mitigated most of our supply risk and our factories were running at capacity. The experiences of 2020 have created new opportunities for us and our customers accelerating demand for networking technology across the markets we serve. CommScope’s technologies and expertise, combined with our passion to create lasting connectivity, are key to the digital transformation of business and society. True to our tagline, “now meets next,” we are ready to support our customers as they meet the demands of today’s and tomorrow’s networks. Our acquisition of ARRIS International extended our capabilities, customer base and global presence. Now we look to shape our business for growth and shareholder value. Read the full letter here.
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CommScope in 2020
In a challenging year, our employees stepped-up their innovation and commitment to our values. Hear about our efforts in Supply Chain, ESG, Diversity & Inclusion and more.
To our shareholders.pdf
Home
Chuck Treadway
President and Chief Executive Officer
Hear from Chuck
About Chuck
Financial Highlights
Letter to Shareholders
Supply Chain
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do
Learn more
Our Business Units
Home Networks
Broadband Networks
Outdoor Wireless Networks
Venue and Campus Networks
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Frank M. Drendel Community Service Excellence Awards
Delivering critical communication network equipment across the globe
Diversity & Inclusion Business Network
Leadership
We’ve brought together an executive team with a wide breadth and depth of experiences to support our key focus – commercial excellence and transformation. Some are new to CommScope, others have a history with us, and all are working to position us for our next horizon of growth and efficiency.
Our new network nearly 2000 employees strong is enabling growth through empowerment
Winner announcements coming soon!
“I am very proud to be leading our Diversity & Inclusion Business Network. It provides a platform to elevate our employees’ voices, drive growth and development while focusing on our diversity and inclusion initiatives both internally and externally. We believe we can affect true change this way!” – Tom Verbeke, DIBN Global Chair
CommScope launches their Diversity and Inclusion Business Network
The purpose of the Diversity and Inclusion Business Network is to foster a dynamic and inclusive workplace that embraces our diverse people and experiences and empowers us to deliver results for our customers and growth for our company. We provide CommScope employees with opportunities to network, learn and lead, to help grow careers, support communities and create lasting connections with our customers, partners and suppliers. Here’s how we’ll do this:
Provide business-relevant development and networking opportunities for all members Cultivate the growth and development of all members while maintaining focus on female leaders and early-career professionals Engage in community STEM efforts to support the next generation of technologists Help leaders fuel collaboration by harnessing diversity as we innovate for our customers’ success Collaborate across CommScope to embed a diversity and inclusion focus in our business and organization strategies
Meet the DIBN Leadership Council
Ambassadors
Diversity
101
Members
DIBN
1740+
What's NEXT
Engage DIBN members at every local site level
Establish organizational KPIs and link to employee feedback on how we’re doing
Partner with external organizations to further raise awareness, supplement our programming, activate our community impact and engage with strategic STEM activities
The Frank M. Drendel Community Service Excellence Awards recognize and support the most significant community service efforts made by our employees. Around the world our employees lead the way in initiating and contributing to community service - organizing teams, volunteering time and fundraising. In 2020, CommScope announced these awards to help contribute to the organizations our employees are most passionate about; encouraging continued support that honors Frank Drendel's legacy.
Nominees will be selected by their work in the following areas: (click for more information)
Dean Giles
Jeff Brooks
Kiran Kumar
Bob Noonan
For outstanding leadership in the community
Sustainability
For making a positive impact on environmental issues
Impact
Huifei Cheng
Tiffany Hodson
Fundraising
Jeff Kahn
Chris Beard
Commitment
Joan Nolan
Chris Turner
Pat Thompson
Amy Miller
Champion
Reynosa Mexico Team
For contribution to projects or programs in the community
Joe Elko
For outstanding fundraising initiatives for good causes
For dedication to the service of people in their communities
For recruiting others into community service
Andrea Gerres
Goa EHS Team
Ben Cardwell
SVP Venue and Campus Networks
Campus and building networks were disrupted in 2020, as nice-to-have technologies became must-have technologies, accelerating technology improvements that were formerly on the back burner. In the absence of “business as usual,” enterprises and small businesses quickly moved to the cloud, driving widespread adoption of single-mode fiber in data centers increasing demand for CommScope's hyperscale solutions. Building owners updated cabling infrastructure to support increased IoT demands and explored additional licensed and unlicensed in-building wireless options to focus on employee and customer health and safety, energy management, access control and crowd sizing. The launch of RUCKUS Analytics, our new AI/machine learning tool along with RUCKUS Cloud helped businesses manage the new devices and services. Wi-Fi 6 momentum continues to grow. Private networks deployments are already transforming the connected experience for enterprises, operators, communities and consumers in the US.
“Seismic changes in the industry prompted building and venue owners to accelerate the adoption of new technologies, thereby creating highly complex networks. Our mission is to make them simple, reliable and adaptable while creating an exceptional user experience. ”
2020 Net Sales
2020 Adjusted EBITDA
Competitors
Data Center
AFL Corning Leviton Panduit Sumitomo
Cisco HPE (Aruba) Juniper Networks (Mist Systems) Extreme Networks
Wi-Fi/Switching
Corning (SpiderCloud) JMA Wireless SOLiD
In-Building Cellular
Corning Belden Legrand Leviton Panduit
Infrastructure Competitors
Highlights
Close
$1,937M
$180M
CommScope launches extensions to the RUCKUS portfolio: - RUCKUS Analytics - RUCKUS Wi-Fi 6 certified access points (APs) - RUCKUS Cloud CommScope gains a 5-star rating in the 2020 CRN® Partner Program Guide More than 227 miles of fiber and 1.5 million feet of copper cable installed in Allegiant Stadium Google and CommScope deliver private, secure wireless roaming for Orion Wi-Fi
About the segment
About
Our solutions deliver wired and wireless connectivity for both public and private networks in enterprise buildings, campuses, public venues and high-density data centers. This includes: Wi-Fi, switching, distributed antenna systems (DAS), CBRS, small cells, and structured cabling and connectivity.
Morgan Kurk
SVP Broadband Networks
Cisco Harmonic Casa Nokia Huawei Corning Belden PPC Broadband Clearfield AFL
$2,896M
$641M
CommScope announces industry first 204MHz digital return CommScope announces Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) portfolio expansion Comcast selects CommScope's high density Remote PHY shelf for DAA transformation Mediacom Communications selects CommScope to power groundbreaking 10G trial
Our solutions encompass the network access technologies (headend optics, nodes, taps and amplifiers), cable headend and PON, distributed and virtualized network architectures and services and video infrastructure systems. Bringing gigabit broadband, TV (cable, IPTV, OTT) to homes and businesses and more. Our Professional Services team define, manage and support network transformation projects, hyperscale and data center services, software and managed services, across and beyond the CommScope portfolio.
The pandemic has played an unprecedented role in the significant, immediate, and global uptick in broadband network traffic. A new emphasis on remote work, virtual education, and video-driven applications for billions of people have created an obvious bandwidth challenge and for the majority of operators, the biggest challenges have been in the upstream. We’re seeing many planned upgrade programs taking place at an accelerated pace due to COVID-19. Our short-term, mid-term, and long-term solutions for cable operators of all sizes enable the transition from managing today’s massive influx of pandemic-induced traffic to delivering the 10G speeds of the future. Operators have been responding across the board with node segmentation and splits to stay ahead of new demand and operators with larger budgets are moving to next-generation mid-split and high-split designs. These will go a long way in enabling Gigabit Service Level Agreements later down the line. These changes, in conjunction with the greater penetration of orthogonal frequency-division multiple access and DOCSIS 3.1 technologies are improving spectral efficiencies and driving up QAM levels. In 2021, we'll start to see infrastructure evolve to a more dynamic virtualized architecture.
"We have an incredible legacy in cable and connectivity, however the networks and the architectures are changing. We are charting a new path where we can lead with innovation and differentiation that matters to our customers."
Farid Firouzbakht
SVP Outdoor Wireless Networks
Macro Cellular
Huawei Ericsson (Kathrein) Amphenol
Concealfab Sabre SitePro Larson
Metro Cellular
Federated Wireless Google
SAS
$1,244M
$279M
CommScope collaborates with Nokia on interleaved passive-active antenna CommScope launches new antennas, connectors and power solutions FCC certifies CommScope Spectrum Access System (SAS) for full commercial deployment CommScope CBRS SAS supports Cambium Networks equipment
"The cellular industry is needed now more than any other time in order to facilitate communication between families and for work. The flexibility of our global manufacturing capabilities have ensured supply to our customers, keeping projects going and solving unexpected demand." Farid Firouzbakht
Although there was a slowdown of mobile network deployments in 2020, operators continued to deploy 5G infrastructure to support new devices. To help accelerate 5G deployments, CommScope collaborated on a new interleaved passive-active antenna (IPAA) radio platform. The modular IPAA simplifies the introduction of 5G NR by enabling its deployment on existing sites – without the need for additional footprint. Looking beyond antennas, CommScope delivers outdoor wireless network solutions that span the top, middle, and bottom of the tower. These include Base Station Antennas (BSAs), structural solutions and RF Conditioning at the top; microwave backhaul antennas in the middle; and steel equipment platforms, enclosures, and power solutions at the bottom. These elements of the radio access network are connected to the radio equipment and to the wired transport network using CommScope’s Heliax Connectivity solutions.
“Operators will continue to accelerate their rollouts of 5G networks in 2021 while governments across the globe clear additional spectrum to accommodate more users and data."
Our solutions are the backbone of outdoor cellular and Wi-Fi systems: cell tower antennas, cabinets, cabling, data and power connectivity and smart structures that support the aesthetic deployment of Wi-Fi and small cells in urban and suburban environments.
Joe Chow
SVP Home Networks
"Connectivity enables our busy digital lives and drives our economy. With more people working and learning from home, it has become more important than ever for us to deliver world class connectivity and value to consumers and service providers."
Service Provider Products
Technicolor Hitron Sagemcom Humax Skyworth
D-Link Linksys NETGEAR TP-Link Zoom/Motorola eero
SURFboard Retail Products
$2,360M
$116M
CommScope extends Wi-Fi 6 tri-band mesh portfolio with SURFboard mAX® Vodafone Germany and CommScope bring higher speeds into the connected home CommScope and TiVo® extend licensing agreements CommScope introduces two new DOCSIS 3.1 home gateways with Wi-Fi 6 CommScope’s innovative home network solutions deliver Wi-Fi 6 connectivity to Ziply Fiber CommScope and RDK announce contribution of USP agent for RDK community CommScope launches the ARRIS SURFboard S33 cable modem
“Adipiscing at in tellus integer feugiat scelerisque varius. Amet consectetur adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant morbi tristique. Enim sed faucibus turpis in eu mi bibendum neque egestas. Nulla facilisi cras fermentum odio eu feugiat. Placerat vestibulum lectus mauris ultrices. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et.” Joe Chow
2020 highlighted that a reliable home network using modems and gateways was more important than ever. The pandemic forced service providers to speed up the rollout of high-speed broadband and deploy more home network devices. With more people working and learning from home, the need for quality Wi-Fi and connectivity became essential. CommScope worked with service providers to meet the increasing connection demands of today’s consumers by delivering exceptional broadband connections that offered instant, always-available connections, both wired and wireless, throughout the home. We evolved our entire broadband portfolio (PON, DOCSIS, FWA and Extenders) to support Wi-Fi 6. In addition we collaborated with service providers to develop streaming and smart media devices that provide both an exceptional viewing experience for their customers and enable them to extend their home services.
Our solutions power the home connected experience. Our broadband and video devices and services enable service providers to deliver the best broadband, Wi-Fi, video and smart home services to millions of subscribers around the globe.
Lean into excellence program
Goal
Logistics
Operations
Procurement
Engineering
CommScope Supply Chain
20,000 people building and delivering critical communication network equipment across the globe
Goals By Function
The strength and diversity of our supply chain was tested like never before in 2020. Our people were extraordinarily innovative in sustaining delivery of networking technology to our customers around the globe while taking all the necessary measures to stay safe. In 2020, we manufactured, tested, and deployed 30 million home networking devices – that’s 82,000 households per day turning on a newly acquired CommScope set-top box or modem. Broadband and wireless equipment continued to be deployed, delivering more connections for more than 58 million fiber-optic terminations. Our global reach and scale underpin our business continuity strategy. Our continued investment and extension of our data and manufacturing systems, combined with our diverse manufacturing capabilities, meant we could adapt to the frequent supply, distribution and staffing adjustments delivering 80% global capacity and production.
“The diversity and resilience of our global manufacturing footprint is evident, and our global network of contract manufacturers and suppliers are a key strength for CommScope enhancing our ability to deliver for our customers.”
Gordon Robb SVP Global Operations
Flexible
Managing
Adaptable
Anticipating
Rigorous
Innovating
Robust demand and inventory management strategies aligned to our global supply chain enabled us to prime the pump for key markets.
Logistics stayed on top of air and ocean transportation delays as health care suppliers were stressed on the global distribution system.
Procurement teams actively pursued alternative and multicountry sourcing for key components and materials. Our dual sourcing capability allowed us to move manufacturing to other sites.
We increased our customer engagement and constantly analyzed market demands. By enhancing our enterprise resource planning systems and analytics, we advanced our ability to coordinate supply from multiple sources and synchronize customer service.
CommScope applied safe operating measures in all factories and distribution centers in compliance with government and World Health Organization regulations.
CommScope accelerated investment in automation, allowing us to be resilient and cost competitive. Our engineers, inspired to innovate for employee safety and business continuity, developed tools to support the essential collaborations and interactions required, while respecting safety protocols.
By the Numbers
46
24/7
x2
30x20
Sourcing materials from 46 countries enabled a shift in the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic
By working around-the-clock, our global team mitigated supply chain pressures
Procurement dual-sourced key materials. Our contract manuf-acturers bolstered our production and resiliency
CommScope has more than 30 distribution centers across more than 20 countries
The Global Supply Chain team actively exercises our company value to continuously improve and innovate for customer success. With an uncompromising resolve to deliver needed customer solutions, with quality and to our scheduled commitments, we strive to exceed our goals to build better. In 2020, we exceeded our benchmarks in eight of nine categories for an overall 117% of planned efficiencies.
More than 5200 process improvement proposals submitted
Cost reduction
Design
Efficiency
Restructuring
(Click the key or segments for more)
1665
37
2474
191
855
CommScope embraces sustainability as a fundamental business value for our customers, our employees and communities in which we operate. By prioritizing good governance, sustainable growth and environmental stewardship, we’re working to make a difference every day. In honor of these initiatives, Newsweek named CommScope one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for the second consecutive year.
Environmental
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A- score for 2020 CDP Climate Change disclosure 8.6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions 85.3% of nonhazardous waste diverted from landfills 9.3% reduction in water consumption from 2019
Employer of the Year Silver Stevie® Award 763 employees enrolled in a business/leadership program Exceeding safety standards; injury rates 67.5% lower relative to US OSHA
Social
Our top priority is to support the health and safety of our customers, communities and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic while meeting the world’s need to connect.
CommScope’s COVID-19 response
One of America’s Most Responsible Companies – Newsweek Gold Corporate Social Responsibility rating – EcoVadis 90% of manufacturing sites are enhanced ISO standards certified
Ethics and governance
Provided toolkits for working parents with children at home Offered product discounts for broadband connectivity Created forums for working parents Extended flexible work policies
Workforce support
Contributed $3.8 million to relief organizations worldwide Donated Wi-Fi network equipment to support field hospitals and homework hot spots Provided face shields, safety glasses and masks to health care facilities
Customer and community support
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