10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                to                

Commission file number: 001-33778

NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	31-1786871
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

550 West Adams Street

Suite 900

Chicago, IL 60661

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(312) 384-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer	¨	Accelerated filer	x
Non-accelerated filer	¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of July 31, 2012, 31,791,575 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value, were issued and outstanding.

NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC.

INDEX

		Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)		3
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011		3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income— Three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011		4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011		5
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements		6
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		12
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk		18
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		19
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		20
Item 1A.	Risk Factors		20
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		20
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities		20
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures		20
Item 5.	Other Information		20
Item 6.	Exhibits		20

2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	June 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	110,199		$	90,279
Receivables — net of allowance of $1,912 and $1,929, respectively		41,832			46,991
Deferred income taxes-current		2,968			3,227
Other current assets		10,339			6,655
Total current assets		165,338			147,152
Property and equipment — net		75,599			75,045
Intangible assets — net		26,590			28,644
Goodwill		47,285			48,137
Restricted cash		962			962
Other assets		2,454			2,870
Total assets	$	318,228		$	302,810
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	12,028		$	13,792
Accrued liabilities:
Taxes payable		2,592			2,567
Circuit cost		10,666			8,743
Rent		1,717			1,525
Payroll and related items		5,102			4,366
Other		3,858			2,640
Total current liabilities		35,963			33,633
Other liabilities		1,811			1,693
Deferred income taxes-noncurrent		7,691			7,806
Total liabilities		45,465			43,132
Commitments and contingencies		—			—
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock — par value of $.001; 50,000,000 authorized shares; no shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011		—			—
Common stock — par value of $.001; 150,000,000 authorized shares; 31,796,487 shares and 31,520,121 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively		32			32
Less treasury stock, at cost; 3,083,446 shares at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011		(50,103	)		(50,103	)
Additional paid-in capital		190,333			185,014
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(6,941	)		(4,346	)
Retained earnings		139,442			129,081
Total shareholders’ equity		272,763			259,678
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	318,228		$	302,810

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Revenue	$	68,272		$	65,090		$	138,968		$	131,508
Operating expense:
Network and facilities expense (excluding depreciation and amortization)		30,044			26,254			60,559			52,073
Operations		11,428			9,354			22,979			18,773
Sales and marketing		3,978			3,109			8,012			6,468
General and administrative		6,666			6,361			13,404			16,419
Depreciation and amortization		7,795			7,414			15,095			14,520
Gain on disposal of fixed assets		(4	)		(6	)		(109	)		(12	)
Total operating expense		59,907			52,486			119,940			108,241
Income from operations		8,365			12,604			19,028			23,267
Other expense (income):
Interest income		(12	)		(17	)		(15	)		(30	)
Other (income) expense		(18	)		346			(31	)		360
Foreign exchange loss (gain)		602			(622	)		375			(2,385	)
Total other expense (income)		572			(293	)		329			(2,055	)
Income before income taxes		7,793			12,897			18,699			25,322
Provision for income taxes		4,087			5,845			8,338			10,086
Net income	$	3,706		$	7,052		$	10,361		$	15,236
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.12		$	0.21		$	0.33		$	0.45
Diluted	$	0.12		$	0.20		$	0.32		$	0.44
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		31,791			33,987			31,728			34,119
Diluted		32,178			34,415			32,118			34,555
Total comprehensive (loss) income	$	(1,591	)	$	8,646		$	7,766		$	21,593

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012			2011
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$	10,361		$	15,236
Adjustments to reconcile net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		15,095			14,520
Deferred income taxes		(13	)		(815	)
Gain on disposal of fixed assets		(109	)		(12	)
Non-cash share-based compensation		6,027			9,427
Loss on intercompany foreign exchange transactions		297			—
Excess tax deficiency associated with share-based payments		120			43
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables		4,568			(4,612	)
Other current assets		(3,927	)		(410	)
Other noncurrent assets		120			(2,784	)
Accounts payable		(1,366	)		(3,086	)
Accrued liabilities		4,295			3,099
Noncurrent liabilities		178			272
Net cash flows from operating activities		35,646			30,878
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchase of equipment		(14,869	)		(12,805	)
Proceeds from sale of equipment		107			12
Purchase of other investments		—			(500	)
Net cash flows from investing activities		(14,762	)		(13,293	)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		69			160
Restricted shares withheld to cover employee taxes paid		(657	)		(668	)
Excess tax deficiency associated with share-based payments		(120	)		(43	)
Payments made for repurchase of common stock		—			(50,106	)
Net cash flows from financing activities		(708	)		(50,657	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(256	)		200
Net Increase (Decrease) In Cash And Cash Equivalents		19,920			(32,872)
Cash And Cash Equivalents — Beginning		90,279			106,674
Cash And Cash Equivalents — End	$	110,199		$	73,802
Supplemental Disclosure Of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for taxes	$	9,536		$	9,891
Supplemental Disclosure Of Noncash Flow Items:
Investing Activity — Accrued purchases of equipment	$	6,514		$	4,090

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

Organization — Neutral Tandem, Inc. d/b/a Inteliquent (the Company) provides U.S. and international voice, IP Transit, and Ethernet telecommunications services primarily on a wholesale basis. The Company offers these services using an all-IP network, which enables the Company to deliver global connectivity for a variety of media, including voice, data and video. The Company’s solutions enable carriers and other providers to deliver telecommunications traffic or other services where they do not have their own network or elect not to use their own network. These solutions are sometimes called “off-net” services. The Company also provides its solutions to customers, like content providers, who also typically do not have their own network.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation — The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements — The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012, and 2011 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The accompanying statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to interim periods. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2012 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated statements and reflect all adjustments, which are normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of its statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any subsequent quarter, for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

The carrying amounts of our cash and equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash and cash equivalents. At June 30, 2012, the Company had $20.4 million of cash in banks and $89.8 million in two money market mutual funds. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $11.5 million of cash in banks and $78.8 million in two money market mutual funds.

Property and Equipment — Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost. These costs are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets using the straight-line method. Any gains and losses from the disposition of property and equipment are included in operations as incurred. The estimated useful life for switch equipment and tools and test equipment is five years. The estimated useful life for computer equipment, computer software and furniture and fixtures is three years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of five years or the life of the lease, whichever is less. The impairment of long-lived assets is periodically evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate that a potential impairment has occurred.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net — The change in the carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets during the six months ended June 30, 2012, is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2011		Currency Translation Effect			June 30, 2012
Goodwill	$	48,137	$	(852	)	$	47,285

Intangible assets, net consist of the following:

	June 30, 2012
(Dollars in thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	$	30,434	$	(3,844	)	$	26,590
	December 31, 2011
(Dollars in thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	$	31,337	$	(2,693	)	$	28,644

6

Intangible assets, which consist of customer relationships, have a definite life and are amortized on an accelerated basis based on the discounted cash flows recognized over their estimated useful lives (15 years). Intangible asset amortization expense was $0.7 million and $1.3 million, in the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. Intangible asset amortization expense was $0.6 million and $1.2 million, in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. Intangible asset amortization for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is estimated at $2.5 million for 2012, $2.9 million for 2013, $2.8 million for 2014, $2.4 million for 2015 and $2.0 million in 2016.

Revenue Recognition — The Company generates revenue from sales of its voice, IP Transit, and Ethernet services. The Company maintains tariffs and executed service agreements with each of its customers in which specific fees and rates are determined. Voice revenue is recorded each month on an accrual basis based upon minutes of traffic switched by the Company’s network by each customer, which is referred to as minute of use. The rates charged per minute are determined by contracts between the Company and its customers or by filed and effective tariffs.

IP Transit revenue and Ethernet services revenue are recorded each month on an accrual basis based upon bandwidth used by each customer. The rates charged are the total of a monthly fee for bandwidth (the Committed Traffic Rate) plus additional charges for the sustained peak bandwidth used monthly in excess of the Committed Traffic Rate.

Earnings per Share — In calculating earnings per common share, we allocate our earnings between common shareholders and holders of unvested share-based payment awards (i.e. non-vested shares) that contain rights to nonforfeitable dividends. This earnings allocation is referred to as the two-class method.

Under the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated between common stock and participating securities (non-vested shares) as if all of the net earnings for the period had been distributed. Basic earnings per common share excludes dilution and is calculated by dividing net earnings allocable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net earnings allocable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, as adjusted for the potential dilutive effect of non-participating share-based awards such as stock options. The following table reconciles earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Numerator:
Net income applicable to common stockholders, as reported	$	3,706	$	7,052	$	10,361	$	15,236
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		31,791		33,987		31,728		34,119
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options		387		428		390		436
Denominator for diluted earnings per share		32,178		34,415		32,118		34,555
Net earnings per share:
Basic — as reported	$	0.12	$	0.21	$	0.33	$	0.45
Diluted — as reported	$	0.12	$	0.20	$	0.32	$	0.44

Outstanding share-based awards of 2.7 million were outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive.

The undistributed earnings allocable to participating securities were $0.1 million, $0.3 million, $0.4 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. This model takes into account the exercise price of the stock option, the fair value of the common stock underlying the stock option as measured on the date of grant and an estimation of the volatility of the common stock underlying the stock option. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures, using the straight line method. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from the Company’s current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ from the Company’s current estimates.

Compensation expense for non-vested shares is measured based upon the quoted closing market price for the stock on the date of grant. The compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. See Note 5, “Stock Options and Non-Vested Shares.”

7

The amount of non-cash share-based expense recorded in the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is $2.9 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The amount of non-cash share-based expense recorded in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is $6.0 million and $9.4 million, respectively.

Stock Repurchase — On February 21, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of its outstanding common stock as part of a stock repurchase program. On April 18, 2011, the Company entered into a letter agreement with Spotlight Advisors, LLC, George Allen and Clinton Group, Inc. on behalf of themselves and their respective affiliated funds, persons and entities, pursuant to which the Company agreed, subject to certain conditions, to convert its existing $50.0 million discretionary stock repurchase program into a modified “Dutch auction” tender offer. In the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company repurchased approximately 3.1 million shares at a price of $16.25 per share, for a total cost of $50.1 million, exclusive of related fees and expenses. The modified “Dutch auction” tender offer expired on June 13, 2011. The common shares purchased pursuant to the tender offer represented approximately 8.9% of the common shares outstanding as of June 10, 2011. The Company funded the purchase of the common shares in the tender offer using cash on hand. The shares were not retired as of June 30, 2012. The stock repurchases are accounted for under the cost method whereby the entire cost of the repurchased shares was recorded to treasury stock.

Foreign Currency Translation — The functional currency of each of the Company’s subsidiaries is the currency of the country in which the subsidiary operates. Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated using period end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated using average exchange rates during the period. Translation gains and losses are reported in accumulated other comprehensive earnings as a component of stockholders’ equity.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements — Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income in U.S. GAAP (ASU 2011-05) and Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2011-12). These ASUs require that comprehensive income and the related components of net income and of other comprehensive income be presented in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments did not change the items reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income is reclassified to net income. As a result, the adoption of this guidance did not affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company has presented the components in one continuous statement.

3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, the Company is a party to legal proceedings arising in the normal course of its business. Aside from the matters discussed below, the Company does not believe that it is a party to any pending legal action that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on its business or operating results, financial position or cash flows.

Peerless Network, Inc.

Proceeding in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

As previously disclosed, on June 12, 2008, the Company commenced a patent infringement action against Peerless Network, Inc., Peerless Network of Illinois, LLC, and John Barnicle (collectively, Peerless Network) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to enforce the ‘708 Patent (Neutral Tandem, Inc. v Peerless Network, Inc., Peerless Network of Illinois, LLC and John Barnicle, 08 CV 3402 ). On July 28, 2008, Peerless Network filed a response to the Company’s complaint denying liability and asserting various affirmative defenses and counterclaims. Peerless Network generally alleged (i) that the ‘708 Patent was invalid and unenforceable under a variety of theories, (ii) that assertion of the ‘708 Patent amounted to patent misuse and violation of certain monopolization laws, and (iii) that certain conduct surrounding the litigation gave rise to tortious interference and business disparagement claims and Lanham Act violations. On December 4, 2008, the court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the claims alleging business disparagement and Lanham Act violations but denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the claims related to the allegations of tortious interference and alleged violation of certain monopolization laws. On January 27, 2010, the court issued an order construing each of the disputed terms in the patent in the manner the Company had proposed. On March 30, 2010, the court issued an order denying the Company’s motion dated August 25, 2009 for preliminary injunctive relief which sought to enjoin Peerless Network from providing certain tandem transit services.

On April 27, 2010, the court issued an order denying without prejudice the motion of Peerless Network seeking leave to file a motion to stay the patent litigation. Peerless Network sought to stay the patent litigation pending the inter partes reexamination by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the USPTO) of the validity of the ‘708 Patent, which is discussed under “Inter partes proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office “ below.

On June 1, 2010, Peerless Network filed a renewed motion asking the court to extend the trial date by nine months or stay proceedings pending the inter partes reexamination by the USPTO of the validity of the ‘708 Patent. The court heard the motion on June 8, 2010. After hearing the motion, the court issued an order that in substance removed the previously scheduled September 2010 trial date from the court’s calendar. However, the court also ordered that proceedings on the parties’ respective motions for summary judgment would continue, and the court set a ruling date on the parties’ summary judgment motions for September 1, 2010.

8

On September 2, 2010, the court issued an opinion and order granting Peerless Network’s motion for summary judgment. The court found that the ‘708 Patent is invalid in light of a prior patent, U.S. Patent No. 6,137,800. In light of the summary judgment ruling, the court denied the Company’s request to reinstate the trial date as moot.

The court’s September 2, 2010 order also denied the Company’s motion for summary judgment. The Company sought summary judgment on its claim that Peerless Network infringed the ‘708 Patent, as well as summary judgment on Peerless Network’s claim that the ‘708 Patent is unenforceable. At a hearing on September 22, 2010, the court allowed the Company to file a new motion for summary judgment on Peerless Network’s claim that the ‘708 Patent is unenforceable. The court also dismissed Counts IV-VII of Peerless Network’s counterclaims, which were claims against the Company based on allegations of monopolization, monopoly leveraging, violations of the Illinois Antitrust Act, and tortious interference with prospective business relations.

On December 9, 2010, the court issued an opinion and order granting the Company’s motion for summary judgment on Peerless Network’s claim that the ‘708 Patent was unenforceable based on alleged “inequitable conduct” and “patent misuse.” The court entered a final judgment with respect to all claims in the litigation on December 17, 2010.

On December 20, 2010, the Company filed notice that it planned to appeal the court’s order granting Peerless Network’s motion for summary judgment and finding that the ‘708 Patent is invalid. On January 13, 2011, Peerless Network cross-appealed the court’s order granting the Company’s motion for summary judgment and finding that the ‘708 Patent is not unenforceable, as well as the court’s earlier ruling construing disputed terms of the patent in the Company’s favor.

On June 6, 2011, Peerless Network agreed to withdraw its cross-appeal. Briefing in the Company’s appeal was completed on July 19, 2011. Oral argument in the Company’s appeal occurred on December 8, 2011. On December 13, 2011, the federal appellate court affirmed the finding that our patent is invalid, and on January 30, 2012, the appellate court denied our petition for rehearing of the December 13, 2011 ruling. The Company had the option to ask the United States Supreme Court to review that ruling. A petition for such review was due by April 30, 2012. The Company has elected not to ask the United States Supreme Court to review that ruling. As such, the district court’s ruling that the ‘708 Patent is invalid has become final and non-appealable.

On September 1, 2011, the district court issued an order that awarded approximately $102,000 in litigation-related costs to Peerless Network, and approximately $48,000 in litigation-related costs to the Company. The Company filed notice that it planned to appeal that part of the court’s order awarding costs to Peerless Network on September 30, 2011. On May 18, 2012, the Company withdrew its appeal of the district court’s award.

Peerless Network has notified us that it intends to pursue a claim for attorney’s fees in the trial court. The Company believes that a loss with respect to any such claim, if such a claim is made, is remote.

Inter partes proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office

As previously disclosed, in a separate proceeding, on January 28, 2010, Peerless Network filed a request with the USPTO requesting that the USPTO reexamine the ‘708 Patent. On March 26, 2010, the USPTO granted Peerless Network’s inter partes reexamination request and issued an initial office action which rejected the ‘708 Patent’s 23 claims. The claims of the ‘708 Patent as originally issued by the USPTO remain valid and enforceable during the USPTO reexamination proceeding. Under the USPTO’s rules, the Company was not allowed to respond to Peerless Network’s request prior to the USPTO’s initial determination.

On May 20, 2010, the USPTO granted the Company’s request to extend the time by which it must file its response to the March 26, 2010 office action from May 26, 2010 to July 26, 2010.

On April 12, 2010, the Company moved separately to suspend the inter partes reexamination proceeding in its entirety, pending resolution of the litigation between the Company and Peerless Network. On June 30, 2010, the USPTO denied the Company’s petition seeking to suspend the separate reexamination proceeding. Although the USPTO did not suspend the reexamination proceeding, the USPTO stated in its decision, among other things, that it is “appropriate to continue both [the reexamination and litigation] proceedings to obtain the results and benefits of each, as they accrue.”

On July 26, 2010, the Company responded to the USPTO’s March 26, 2010 office action. On November 24, 2010, the USPTO issued an action closing prosecution, in which the USPTO maintained its rejection of the ‘708 Patent’s 23 original claims, as well as 35 additional claims added to the ‘708 Patent in the Company’s July 26, 2010 response.

On January 7, 2011, the Company filed a response to the USPTO’s November 24, 2010 action closing prosecution. Thereafter, Peerless Network filed comments in opposition to the Company’s response on February 4, 2011.

On March 11, 2011, the USPTO issued a right of appeal notice, in which the USPTO maintained its rejection of the ‘708 Patent’s 23 original claims, as well as the 35 additional claims added to the ‘708 Patent in the Company’s July 26, 2010 response.

On April 11, 2011, the Company filed a notice of appeal of the USPTO’s decision to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (the BPAI). Peerless Network filed a notice of appeal of the USPTO’s decision to the BPAI on April 19, 2011. Briefing in those appeals was completed in December 2011.

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Now that the decision of the federal district court finding our patent invalid has become final and non-appealable, proceedings at the USPTO have ended with respect to existing claims, though we have asked the BPAI to remand the matter to the USPTO in order to continue proceedings with respect to new claims. The BPAI has not yet issued a ruling on that request.

The USPTO action will determine whether the patent is valid or invalid. The USPTO will not directly assess liability against the Company or Peerless Network. For a discussion of the Company’s patent infringement claim against Peerless Network, see “Proceeding in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois” above.

Carrier Dispute

The Company has a dispute with a carrier to which it terminates voice traffic. The carrier is one of our largest customers and claims the Company has been improperly terminating long distance traffic to it in breach of the parties’ agreement. The final outcome and impact of this dispute cannot be predicted. The Company establishes accruals only for those matters where it determines that a loss is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company is not currently able to estimate reasonably the loss that it may incur, if any, in connection with this dispute. However, such loss, if any, could be material to the Company’s result of operations in the period recognized, and future periods, as could the carrier’s election to reduce its purchases of the Company’s services.

4. INCOME TAXES

Income taxes were computed using an effective tax rate, which is subject to ongoing review and evaluation by the Company. The Company’s estimated effective income tax rate was 44.6% and 52.4% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2012, compared to 39.8% and 45.3% for the same period last year.

The increase in the Company’s effective income tax rate for the both the six and three months ended June 30, 2012, as compared to both the six and three months ended June 30, 2011, was primarily due to our foreign entities’ transaction taxes and non-cash share-based compensation which are not deductible in the foreign jurisdictions of our foreign operations. In addition, during the three months ended June 30, 2012, the rate increased due to changes in the Company’s’ estimated valuation allowance recorded against our Illinois EDGE Credit tax carryforward.

We operate in multiple income tax jurisdictions both inside and outside the United States. Accordingly, we expect that the net amount of tax liability for unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next twelve months due to changes in audit status, expiration of statutes of limitations and other events which could impact our determination of unrecognized tax benefits. Currently, the Company has estimated $1.2 million as its unrecognized tax benefit. At December 31, 2011, the Company had estimated $1.0 million as its unrecognized tax benefit.

5. STOCK OPTIONS AND NON-VESTED SHARES

The Company established the 2003 Stock Option and Stock Incentive Plan (2003 Plan), which provided for the issuance of up to 4.7 million options and non-vested shares to eligible employees, officers, and independent contractors of the Company. In 2007 the Company adopted the Neutral Tandem, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (2007 Plan) and ceased awarding equity grants under the 2003 Plan. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had granted a total of 3.5 million options and 1.2 million non-vested shares that remained outstanding under the 2007 Plan. Awards for 0.7 million shares, representing approximately 2.3% of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of June 30, 2012, remained available for additional grants under the 2007 Plan.

The Company records stock-based compensation expense in connection with any grant of options and non-vested shares to its employees and independent contractors. The Company calculates the expense associated with its stock options and non-vested shares by determining the fair value of the options and non-vested shares.

Options

All options granted under the 2003 Plan and the 2007 Plan have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of the grant. During both the three and six months ended, June 30, 2012, the Company granted less than 0.1 million options at a weighted-average exercise price of $11.75. During the both the three six months ended, June 30, 2011, the Company granted 0.4 million options at a weighted-average exercise price of $14.63 and $14.73, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company granted less than 0.1 million options.

The fair value of each option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following table summarizes the assumptions used for estimating the fair value of options for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011:

	June 30, 2012	June 30, 2011
Expected life	7.2 years	7.0 years
Risk-free interest rate	1.6%	2.2% — 2.9%
Expected dividends	—	—
Volatility	50.5%	51.0% — 51.9%

The weighted-average fair value of options granted, as determined by using the Black-Scholes valuation model, during the period was $6.91 and $8.16 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The total grant date fair value of options that vested during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $3.0 million and $4.7 million, respectively. The total intrinsic value (market value of stock option less option exercise price) of stock options exercised was $0.3 million and $0.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

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The following summarizes activity under the Company’s stock option plan for the six months ended June 30, 2012:

	Shares (000)			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)		Weighted- Average Remaining Term (yrs)
Options outstanding — January 1, 2012		3,520		$	16.09
Granted		5			11.75
Exercised		(30	)		2.27
Cancelled		(37	)		20.60
Options outstanding — June 30, 2012		3,458		$	16.14	$	7,111		6.26
Vested or expected to vest-June 30, 2012		3,268		$	16.13	$	6,720		6.25
Exercisable-June 30, 2012		2,715		$	15.42	$	6,944		5.77

The unrecognized compensation cost associated with options outstanding at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was $5.9 million and $8.5 million, respectively. The weighted average remaining term that the compensation will be recorded is 2.0 years and 2.2 years as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Non-vested Shares

During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company granted 0.3 million non-vested shares to members of the Company’s executive management team as well as various employees within the Company. No shares were issued during the three months ended June 30, 2012. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company granted less than 0.1 million and 0.3 million non-vested shares to members of the Company’s executive management team as well as various employees within the Company. The non-vested shares were issued as part of the 2007 plan. The shares typically vest over a four year period. The fair value of the non-vested shares is determined using the Company’s closing stock price on the grant date. Compensation cost, measured using the grant date fair value, is recognized over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis.

A summary of the Company’s non-vested share activity and related information for the six months ended June 30, 2012 is as follows:

	Shares (000)			Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)
Non-vested shares outstanding — January 1, 2012		1,096		$	14.47
Granted		300			12.15
Vested		(191	)		14.86
Cancelled		—			—
Non-vested shares outstanding — June 30, 2012		1,205		$	13.83		15,882
Non-vested shares vested or expected to vest — June 30, 2012		1,139		$	13.83		15,008

The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value based on the Company’s closing stock price of $13.18 on June 30, 2012. The amount changes based upon the fair market value of the Company’s common stock.

The unrecognized compensation cost associated with non-vested shares at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was $14.3 million and $14.3 million, respectively. The weighted average remaining term that the compensation will be recorded is 2.6 years and 2.4 years as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, Rian J. Wren, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since 2006, announced his decision to retire from the Company on March 31, 2011. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors following his retirement. As a result of this decision, the Board approved the acceleration of the vesting on approximately 0.2 million options and 0.1 million non-vested shares, in addition to the forfeiture of 0.1 million non-vested shares. All options and non-vested shares were fully vested as of March 31, 2011. Non-cash share-based compensation expense of $6.6 million recorded in the first quarter 2011 included $2.0 million related to the acceleration of options and $1.6 million related to the acceleration of non-vested shares.

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6. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Segment Reporting establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis. The Company operates in one industry segment, which is to provide voice, IP Transit and Ethernet interconnection services via the Company’s international telecommunications network to fulfill customer agreements. Therefore, the Company has concluded that it has one operating segment.

7. COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

Comprehensive (loss) income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 consists of net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income includes certain changes in equity that are excluded from net income. Specifically, foreign currency translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets.

The following table reconciles net income to comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2012			June 30, 2011		June 30, 2012			June 30, 2011
Net income	$	3,706		$	7,052	$	10,361		$	15,236
Other comprehensive (loss) income		(5,297	)		1,594		(2,595	)		6,357
Total comprehensive (loss) income	$	(1,591	)	$	8,646	$	7,766		$	21,593

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “proposed,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: our regular review of strategic alternatives; the impact of current and future regulation, including intercarrier compensation reform enacted at the Federal Communications Commission; the effects of competition, including direct connects; the risks associated with our ability to successfully develop and market new services, many of which are beyond our control and all of which could delay or negatively affect our ability to offer or market new services; the risk that our business and the Tinet business will not be integrated successfully; technological developments; the ability to obtain and protect intellectual property rights; the impact of current or future litigation; the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers or divestitures; natural or man-made disasters; the ability to attract, develop and retain executives and other qualified employees; changes in general economic or market conditions, including currency fluctuations; financing facilities and related availability and terms; changes in our capital structure, including but not limited to the reduction of our cash balance and the substantial incurrence of indebtedness and related interest expense that will occur if we complete the proposed special one-time cash dividend transaction discussed below under “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Proposed special one-time cash dividend”; whether the conditions to the proposed special one-time cash dividend will be satisfied, including but not limited to market conditions and whether we will obtain debt financing under terms and conditions that are acceptable to us; whether the special one-time cash dividend transaction will occur on the terms described in our filings or at all, and the timing of such transaction; and other important factors included in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and included elsewhere in this report. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Overview

We provide U.S. and international voice, IP Transit, and Ethernet telecommunications services primarily on a wholesale basis. We offer these services using an all-IP network, which enables us to deliver global connectivity for a variety of media, including voice, data and video. Our solutions enable carriers and other providers to deliver telecommunications traffic or other services where they do not have their own network or elect not to use their own network. These solutions are sometimes called “off-net” services. We also provide our solutions to customers, such as content providers, who also typically do not have their own network. We were incorporated in Delaware on April 19, 2001 and commenced operations in 2004.

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Voice Services

We provide voice interconnection services primarily to competitive carriers, including wireless, wireline, cable and broadband telephony companies. Competitive carriers use our tandem switches to interconnect and exchange local and long distance traffic between their networks without the need to establish direct switch-to-switch connections. Competitive carriers are carriers that are not Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers, or ILECs, such as AT&T, Verizon and Qwest.

Prior to the introduction of our local voice service, competitive carriers generally had two alternatives for exchanging traffic between their networks. The two alternatives were interconnecting to the ILEC tandems or directly connecting individual switches, commonly referred to as “direct connects”. Given the cost and complexity of establishing direct connects, competitive carriers often elected to utilize the ILEC tandem as the method of exchanging traffic. The ILECs typically required competitive carriers to interconnect to multiple ILEC tandems with each tandem serving a restricted geographic area. In addition, as the competitive telecommunications market grew, the process of establishing interconnections at multiple ILEC tandems became increasingly difficult to manage and maintain, causing delays and inhibiting competitive carrier growth, and the purchase of ILEC tandem services became an increasingly significant component of a competitive carrier’s costs.

The tandem switching services offered by ILECs consist of local transit services, which are provided in connection with local calls, and switched access services, which are provided in connection with long distance calls. Under certain interpretations of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and implementing regulations, ILECs are required to provide local transit services to competitive carriers. ILECs generally set per minute rates and other charges for tandem transit services according to rate schedules approved by state public utility commissions, although the methodology used to review these rate schedules varies from state to state. ILECs are also required to offer switched access services to competing telecommunications carriers under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and implementing regulations. ILECs generally set per minute rates and other charges for switched access services according to mandated rate schedules set by the Federal Communications Commission for interstate calls and by state public utility commissions for intrastate calls. Our solution enables competitive carriers to exchange traffic between their networks without using an ILEC tandem for both local and long distance calls.

A loss of ILEC market share to competitive carriers escalated competitive tensions and resulted in an increased demand for tandem switching. Growth in intercarrier traffic switched through ILEC tandems created switch capacity shortages known in the industry as ILEC “tandem exhaust,” where overloaded ILEC tandems became a bottleneck for competitive carriers. This increased call blocking and gave rise to service quality issues for competitive carriers.

We founded our company to solve these interconnection problems and better facilitate the exchange of traffic among competitive carriers and non-carriers. With the introduction of our services, we believe we became the first carrier to provide alternative tandem services capable of alleviating the ILEC tandem exhaust problem. By utilizing our managed tandem service, our customers benefit from a simplified interconnection network solution that reduces costs, increases network reliability, decreases competitive tension and adds network diversity and redundancy. We have signed agreements with major competitive carriers and non-carriers and we operated in 189 markets as of June 30, 2012.

Our business originally connected only local traffic among carriers within a single metropolitan market. In 2006, we installed a national IP backbone network connecting our major local markets. In 2008, we began offering terminating switched access services and originating switched access services. Switched access services are provided in connection with long distance calls. Our terminating switched access services allows interexchange carriers to send calls to us and we then terminate those calls to the appropriate terminating carrier or end user in the local market in which we operate. Our originating switched access service allows the originating end user or carrier in the local market in which we operate to send calls to us that we then deliver to the appropriate interexchange carrier that has been selected to carry that call. In both instances, the interexchange carrier is our customer, which means that it is financially responsible for the call. On October 1, 2010, we acquired Tinet, an Italian corporation that operates a global IP backbone network. As a result of the foregoing, our service offerings now include the capability of switching and carrying local, long distance and international voice traffic.

Data Services

As part of our long-term growth strategy, we acquired Tinet, an Italian corporation. Tinet provides IP Transit and Ethernet services primarily to carriers, service providers and content providers worldwide.

With this acquisition, we evolved from a primarily U.S. voice interconnection company into a global IP-based network services company focused on delivering global connectivity for a variety of media, including voice, data and video. The acquisition expanded our IP-based network internationally, enabling global end-to-end delivery of wholesale voice, IP Transit and Ethernet solutions.

We have IP Transit and Ethernet service agreements with over 800 customers in over 80 countries. We have over 120 points of presence (POPs) where we operate our equipment in carrier neutral facilities. Our core IP Transit network uses all Juniper equipment, which reduces complexity and allows for faster service deployment and easier customer support. We also deploy Cisco routers at the edge of our network where we connect with certain of our customers.

Hosted Services

We recently began to offer hosted services. A hosted service is an application (such as software) that we “host” on our network enabling our customer to avoid the capital expenses associated with purchasing the equipment and associated software licenses that they would need to provide the service to themselves. For example, we host a suite of unified communication and collaboration applications that operate premise-based phone systems, including voicemail, integrated messaging, video calling and WebEx integration. This allows our customers to avoid paying the large upfront fee associated with buying a premise-based phone operating system. We sell this offering on a monthly subscription basis. Our solution supports single site, multi-site and hybrid premise-based implementations. We have not yet begun to generate material revenue from providing hosted services.

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Revenue

We generate revenue from sales of our voice, IP Transit and Ethernet services. Revenue is recorded each month based upon documented minutes of traffic switched or data traffic carried for which service is provided, when collection is probable. Voice revenue is recorded each month on an accrual basis based upon minutes of traffic switched by our network by each customer, which we refer to as minutes of use. The rates charged per minute are determined by contracts between us and our customers or by filed and effective tariffs.

Minutes of use of voice traffic increase as we increase our number of customers, increase the penetration of existing markets, either with new customers or with existing customers, and increase our service offerings. The minutes of use decrease due to direct connection between existing customers, consolidation between customers, a customer using a different interconnection provider or a customer experiencing a decrease in the volume of traffic it carries.

The average fee per minute of voice traffic varies depending on market forces and type of service, such as switched access or local transit. The market rate in each market is based upon competitive conditions along with the switched access or local transit rates offered by the ILECs. Depending on the markets we enter, we may enter into contracts with our customers with either a higher or lower fee per minute than our current average.

Our service solution incorporates other components beyond switching. In addition to switching voice calls, we generally provision trunk circuits between our customers’ switches and our network locations at our own expense and at no direct cost to our customers. We also provide quality of service monitoring, call records and traffic reporting and other services to our customers as part of our voice service solution. Our per-minute fees are intended to incorporate all of these services.

IP Transit revenue and Ethernet services revenue are recorded each month on an accrual basis based upon bandwidth used by each customer. The rates charged are the total of a monthly fee for bandwidth (the Committed Traffic Rate) plus additional charges for the sustained peak bandwidth used monthly in excess of the Committed Traffic Rate.

While generally not seasonal in nature, our voice revenues are affected by certain events such as holidays, the unpredictable timing of direct connects between our customers, and installation and implementation delays. These factors can cause our revenue to both increase or decrease unexpectedly.

Operating Expense. Operating expenses include network and facilities expense, operations expenses, sales and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization and the gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets.

Network and Facilities Expense. Our network and facilities expense includes transport capacity, or circuits, signaling network costs for voice services, transport capacity for our data services, and facility rents and utilities, together with other costs that directly support our POPs. We do not defer or capitalize any costs associated with the start-up of new POPs. The start-up of an additional POP can take between three months to six months. During this time we typically incur facility rent, utilities, payroll and related benefit costs along with initial non-recurring installation costs. Revenues generally follow approximately six months after POP installation.

Network transport costs typically occur on a repeating monthly basis, which we refer to as recurring transport costs, or on a one-time basis, which we refer to as non-recurring transport costs. Recurring transport costs primarily include monthly usage and other charges from telecommunication carriers and are related to the circuits utilized by us to connect to our customers. As our traffic increases, we must utilize additional circuits. Non-recurring transport costs primarily include the initial installation of such circuits. Facility rents include the leases on our POPs, which expire through February 2025. Additionally, we pay the cost of all the utilities for all of our POP locations.

Operations Expenses. Operations expenses include payroll and benefits for our POP location personnel as well as individuals located at our offices who are directly responsible for maintaining and expanding our network. Other primary components of operations expenses include repair and maintenance, property taxes, property insurance and supplies.

Sales and Marketing Expense. Sales and marketing expenses represent the smallest component of our operating expenses and primarily include personnel costs, sales bonuses, marketing programs and other costs related to travel and customer meetings.

General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation and related costs for personnel and facilities associated with our executive, finance, human resource and legal departments and fees for professional services. Professional services principally consist of outside legal, audit, tax and transaction costs.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense for fixed assets is applied using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets after they are placed in service, which are five years for network equipment and test equipment, three years for computer equipment, computer software and furniture and fixtures. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of five years or the life of the respective leases, whichever is shorter. Intangible assets, which consist of customer relationships, have a definite life and are amortized on an accelerated basis based on the discounted cash flows recognized over their estimated useful lives of 15 years.

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Gain on Disposal of Fixed Assets. We dispose of network equipment in connection with converting to new technology and computer equipment to replace old or damaged units. When there is a carrying value of these assets, we record the write-off of these amounts to loss on disposal. In some cases, this equipment is sold to a third party. When the proceeds from the sale of equipment identified for disposal exceeds the asset’s carrying value, we record a gain on disposal.

Other Income. Other income includes interest income and foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates between the functional currency and the foreign currency in which the transaction was denominated.

Income Taxes. Income tax provision includes U.S. federal, state and local, and foreign income taxes and is based on pre-tax income or loss. In determining the estimated annual effective income tax rate, we analyze various factors, including projections of our annual earnings and taxing jurisdictions in which earnings will be generated, the impact of state and local income taxes and our ability to use tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2012, includes a summary of the critical accounting policies we believe are the most important to aid in understanding our financial results. There have been no changes to those critical accounting policies that have had a material impact on our reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues or expenses during the first six months of 2012.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011:

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Revenue	$	68,272		$	65,090		$	138,968		$	131,508
Operating expense:
Network and facilities expense (excluding depreciation and amortization)		30,044			26,254			60,559			52,073
Operations		11,428			9,354			22,979			18,773
Sales and marketing		3,978			3,109			8,012			6,468
General and administrative		6,666			6,361			13,404			16,419
Depreciation and amortization		7,795			7,414			15,095			14,520
Gain on disposal of fixed assets		(4	)		(6	)		(109	)		(12	)
Total operating expense		59,907			52,486			119,940			108,241
Income from operations		8,365			12,604			19,028			23,267
Total other expense (income)		572			(293	)		329			(2,055	)
Income before income taxes		7,793			12,897			18,699			25,322
Provision for income taxes		4,087			5,845			8,338			10,086
Net income	$	3,706		$	7,052		$	10,361		$	15,236

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Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2011

Revenue. Revenue increased to $68.3 million in the three months ended June 30, 2012 from $65.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of 4.9%. The increase in revenue of $3.2 million was due primarily to a $2.5 million increase in revenue generated from our data business, with the remaining increase of $0.7 million related to an increase in voice revenue. We experienced growth in each of our service offerings during the three month ended June 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Revenue growth in our voice and data services during the three months ended June 30, 2012 was driven primarily by end-customer demand for content delivery over the internet and enterprise bandwidth, as well as increased usage for voice services. The increase in data revenue is primarily due to the increase in traffic, measured in megabytes per second. Traffic increased to 7.7 terabits processed in the three months ended June 30, 2012 from 5.2 terabits processed in the three months ended June 30, 2011. Offsetting the increase in megabits was a decrease in the average fee from $2.85 megabit per second for the three months ended June 30, 2011 to $2.26 megabit per second for the three months ended June 30, 2012. The increase in voice revenue is primarily due to the increase in minutes of use billed to 32.8 billion minutes processed in the three months ended June 30, 2012 from 32.5 billion minutes processed in the three months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of 0.8%.

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2012 of $59.9 million increased $7.4 million, or 14.1%, from $52.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The components making up operating expenses are discussed further below.

Network and Facilities Expenses. Network and facilities expenses increased to $30.0 million in the three months ended June 30, 2012, or 44.0% of revenue, from $26.3 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011, or 40.3% of revenue. The increase in network and facilities expense is due to changes in the mix of the voice services we provide and an increase in our IP Transit and Ethernet services. Due to the change in the mix of services provided, higher network and facilities expenses were incurred as we increased activity in these services.

Operations Expenses. Operations expenses increased to $11.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2012, or 16.7% of revenue, from $9.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011, or 14.4% of revenue. The increase of $2.0 million in our operations expenses primarily resulted from an increase of $0.9 million in payroll and benefits, primarily attributable to increases in headcount, $0.5 million increase in repairs and maintenance and $0.2 million in amounts due to the federal universal service fund and state governments as we increase our data services in the United States.

Sales and Marketing Expense. Sales and marketing expense increased to $4.0 million in the three months ended June 30, 2012, or 5.8% of revenue, compared to $3.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011, or 4.8% of revenue. The increase of $0.9 million sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2012 is primarily due to an increase of $0.7 million in payroll and benefits related to increased headcount as we expand our IP Transit and Ethernet businesses.

General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense increased to $6.7 million in the three months ended June 30, 2012, or 9.8% of revenue, compared with $6.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011, or 9.8% of revenue. The increase of $0.3 million in our general and administrative expense is primarily due to an increase of $0.4 million in professional fees.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $7.8 million in the three months ended June 30, 2012, or 11.4% of revenue, compared to $7.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011, or 11.4% of revenue. The increase of $0.4 million increase in our depreciation and amortization expense resulted from capital expenditures primarily related to the expansion of POP capacity in existing markets and the installation of POP capacity in new markets, as we build our data and hosted services.

Other Expense (Income). Other expense increased to $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, compared to other income of $0.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. Other expense of $0.6 million consists primarily of a net foreign exchange loss resulting from the remeasurement of our receivable and payable balances between the functional currency and a net foreign currency in which the transactions are denominated. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, we recognized $0.7 million related to foreign exchange gain recognized on the remeasurement of an intercompany loan denominated in Euros. This gain was offset by $0.3 million of expenses incurred related to the modified “Dutch auction” tender offer to repurchase common shares during the second quarter of 2011.

Provision for Income Taxes. Provision for income taxes of $4.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 decreased by $1.7 million compared to $5.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was 52.4% and 45.3%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to our foreign entities’ transaction taxes and non-cash share-based compensation which are not deductible in the foreign jurisdictions of our foreign operations, as well as changes in our estimated valuation allowance recorded against our Illinois EDGE Credit tax carryforward.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

Revenue. Revenue increased to $139.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 from $131.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of 5.7%. The increase in revenue of $7.5 million was due primarily to a $4.0 million increase in revenue generated from our voice business, with the remaining increase of $3.5 million related to an increase in data revenue. We experienced growth in each of our service offerings during the six month ended June 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Revenue growth in our voice and data services during the six months ended June 30, 2012 was driven primarily by end customer demand for content delivery over the internet and enterprise bandwidth, as well as increased usage for voice services. The increase in data revenue is primarily due to an increase of traffic to 15.0 terabits processed in the six months ended June 30, 2012 from 9.9 terabits processed in the six months ended June 30, 2011. Offsetting the increase in megabits was a decrease in the average fee from $3.15 megabit per second for the six months ended June 30, 2011 to $2.30 megabit per second for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase in voice revenue is primarily due to the increase in minutes of use billed to 67.0 billion minutes processed in the six months ended June 30, 2012 from 64.3 billion minutes processed in the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of 4.3%.

16

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 of $120.0 million increased $11.8 million, or 10.8%, from $108.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The components making up operating expenses are discussed further below.

Network and Facilities Expenses. Network and facilities expenses increased to $60.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012, or 43.6% of revenue, from $52.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011, or 39.6% of revenue. The increase in network and facilities expense is due to changes in the mix of the voice services we provide and an increase in our IP Transit and Ethernet services. Due to the change in the mix of services provided, higher network and facilities expenses were incurred as we increased activity in these services.

Operations Expenses. Operations expenses increased to $23.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012, or 16.5% of revenue, from $18.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011, or 14.3% of revenue. The increase of $4.2 million in our operations expenses primarily resulted from an increase of $2.0 million in payroll and benefits, primarily attributable to increases in headcount, $1.0 million increase in repairs and maintenance and $0.4 million in amounts due to the federal universal service fund and state governments as we increase our data services in the United States.

Sales and Marketing Expense. Sales and marketing expense increased to $8.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012, or 5.8% of revenue, compared to $6.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011, or 4.9% of revenue. The increase of $1.5 million sales and marketing expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 is primarily due to an increase of $1.0 million in payroll and benefits and $0.1 million in non-cash share-based compensation related to increased headcount as we expand our IP Transit and Ethernet businesses, with the remaining balance to due to other sales related expenses.

General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense decreased to $13.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012, or 9.6% of revenue, compared with $16.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011, or 12.5% of revenue. The decrease of $3.0 million in our general and administrative expense is primarily due to a decrease of $3.6 million in non-cash share-based compensation, offset by an increase of $0.3 million in professional fees. The decrease in non-cash share-based compensation is primarily due to the accelerated vesting of options and non-vested shares related to the retirement of Rian J. Wren during the first quarter of 2011, as further discussed in footnote 5 to the condensed consolidated financial statements — “Stock Options and Non-vested Shares”

Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $15.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012, or 10.9% of revenue, compared to $14.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011, or 11.0% of revenue. The increase of $0.6 million increase in our depreciation and amortization expense resulted from capital expenditures primarily related to the expansion of POP capacity in existing markets and the installation of POP capacity in new markets, as we build our data and hosted services.

Other Expense (Income). Other expense increased to $0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, compared to other income of $2.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. Other expense of $0.3 million consists primarily of net unrealized foreign exchange loss resulting from the remeasurement of our receivable and payable balances between the functional currency and a net foreign currency in which the transactions are denominated. In the six months ended June 30, 2011, we recognized $2.6 million related to foreign exchange gain recognized on the remeasurement of an intercompany loan denominated in Euros during 2011. This gain was offset by $0.3 million of expenses incurred related to the modified “Dutch auction” tender offer to repurchase common shares during the second quarter of 2011.

Provision for Income Taxes. Provision for income taxes of $8.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased by $1.8 million compared to $10.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was 44.6% and 39.8%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to our foreign entities’ transaction taxes and non-cash share-based compensation which are not deductible in the foreign jurisdictions of our foreign operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At December 31, 2011, we had $90.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, and $1.0 million in restricted cash. In comparison, at June 30, 2012, we had $110.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1.0 million in restricted cash. Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid money market mutual funds. The restricted cash balance is pledged as collateral for certain commercial letters of credit.

	Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2012			June 30, 2011
Net cash flows from operating activities	$	35,646		$	30,878
Net cash flows from investing activities		(14,762	)		(13,293	)
Net cash flows from financing activities		(708	)		(50,657	)

Cash flows from operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $35.6 million for the first six months of 2012 compared to $30.9 for the same period last year. Operating cash inflows are largely attributable to payments from customers which are generally received between 35 to 45 days following the end of the billing month. Operating cash outflows are largely attributable to personnel related expenditures, and network maintenance costs. The increase in operating cash flow reflects an increase in cash collections, offset by lower operating earnings driven mainly by increased network and facilities expenses.

17

Cash flows from investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $14.8 million for the first six months of 2012, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $13.3 million for the same period last year. Investing cash flows are primarily related to purchases of network equipment. The increase in investing cash flow used is the result of an increase in the purchase of equipment in 2012 for the expansion of our data services and hosted services into new locations and the expansion and upgrades of current locations.

In the next twelve months, capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of approximately $27 to $32 million, primarily for the expansion of our data services and hosted services into new locations and the expansion and upgrades of current locations.

Cash flows from financing activities

Net cash used for financing activities was $0.7 million for the first six months of 2012, compared to net cash used for financing activities of $50.7 million for the same period last year. The changes in cash flows from financing activities primarily relates to the modified “Dutch auction” tender offer during the second quarter of 2011, pursuant to which the Company repurchased approximately 3.1 million common shares at a price of $16.25 per share, for a total cost of $50.1 million, excluding related fees and expenses. The Company funded the purchase of the common shares in the tender offer using cash on hand.

We regularly review acquisitions and strategic opportunities, which may require additional debt or equity financing. We currently do not have any pending agreements with respect to any acquisitions or strategic opportunities which would require additional debt or equity financing.

Investments

As of June 30, 2012, we had $89.8 million in cash and cash equivalents invested in two money market mutual funds. As of December 31, 2011, we had $78.8 million in cash and cash equivalents invested in two money market mutual funds.

Proposed special one-time cash dividend

On August 7, 2012, we announced our plan to declare and pay a special one-time cash dividend in an amount between $4.80 and $5.65 per share, or between approximately $155 million and $180 million in aggregate, during the fall of 2012, subject to market and other conditions. We anticipate funding approximately $80 million of the special cash dividend from our existing cash balance, and approximately $75 million to $100 million from new debt financing. However, there can be no assurance that the special cash dividend will in fact be declared or paid or, if paid, that the amount of the special cash dividend will be within the aforementioned timeframe or amounts. Whether we will declare and pay a special dividend and, if so, the timing, amount and nature of any such dividend, is subject to the approval of our Board of Directors. Such approval will depend upon a variety of factors, several of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited to, our financial results, our financial condition, the availability and arrangement of debt financing on terms that are acceptable to us, our general review of strategic alternatives and general economic conditions. Refer to Item 1A “Risk Factors” in Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information regarding the proposed special one-time cash dividend.

Issuer purchases of equity securities

We did not purchase any of our common stock during the first six months of 2012. On August 7, 2012, we announced that our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $50 million of our outstanding common stock as part of a stock repurchase program. The program will expire in three years. We may repurchase shares through open market, negotiated or block transactions. We do not currently plan to repurchase any stock under the stock repurchase program. We intend to conduct any stock repurchase activities in compliance with the safe harbor provisions of Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The stock repurchase program will be subject to market conditions and does not obligate us to repurchase any dollar amount or number of shares of our common stock, and the program may be extended, modified, suspended or discontinued at any time.

Effect of Inflation

Inflation generally affects us by increasing our cost of labor and equipment. We do not believe that inflation had any material effect on our results of operations for the three month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosure about Market Risk

Interest rate exposure

We had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaling $111.2 million at June 30, 2012. This amount was allocated primarily in two money market mutual funds. The unrestricted cash and cash equivalents are held for working capital purposes. We do not enter into investments for speculative purposes.

Based upon our overall interest rate exposure at June 30, 2012, we do not believe that a hypothetical 10 percent change in interest rates over a one year period would have a material impact on our earnings, fair values or cash flows from interest rate risk sensitive instruments discussed above.

18

Foreign currency

The Company is exposed to the effect of foreign currency fluctuations in certain countries in which it operates. The functional currency of each of the Company’s subsidiaries is the currency of the country in which the subsidiary operates. The exposure to foreign currency movements is limited in most countries because the operating revenues and expenses of its various subsidiaries and business units are substantially in the local currency of the country in which they operate. To the extent borrowings, sales, purchases, revenues, expenses or other transactions are not in the local currency of the subsidiary, the Company is exposed to currency risk. Accordingly, earnings are affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly the Euro and British Pound. As a result, earnings are affected by changes in the exchange rate between the Euro and the dollar. We do not believe that a 10 percent change in these currencies over a one-year period would have a material impact on our earnings.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

Evaluation

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision, and with the participation, of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2012. Based on the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and principal financial officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2012 at the reasonable assurance level.

There have been no changes during the three months ended June 30, 2012 covered by this report in our internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could materially affect or are reasonably likely to materially affect internal control over financial reporting.

19

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Refer to Note 3 “Legal Proceedings” in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information on legal proceedings.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the risk factors outlined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, except for the following, which should be read in conjunction with the risk factors and information disclosed in such Annual Report.

If our proposed special one-time cash dividend transaction is completed, our cash balance will decrease significantly and we will incur a substantial amount of indebtedness, which may adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to expand our business, and we may be unable to comply with debt covenants or secure additional financing on terms acceptable to our company.

As discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Proposed special one-time cash dividend”, our Board of Directors has determined to pursue the declaration and payment of a special one-time cash dividend in an amount between approximately $155 million and $180 million in aggregate during the fall of 2012. We anticipate funding approximately $80 million of the special cash dividend from our existing cash balance, and approximately $75 million to $100 million from new debt financing, contingent upon arranging debt financing on terms that are acceptable to us and a variety of other factors.

Assuming we obtain the anticipated debt financing and our Board of Directors proceeds to declare and pay the special one-time cash dividend, the accompanying reduction in our cash balance may reduce our flexibility to operate our business as we have in the past, including our flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions or to take advantage of business opportunities as they arise. In addition, the new indebtedness may adversely affect our future cash flow and our ability to strengthen and grow our business, because the incurrence of indebtedness will require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to interest payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of cash flows to fund other corporate purposes. A new credit facility, when finalized, may contain restrictive covenants that impose operating and financial restrictions, including restrictions on our ability to engage in activities and initiatives that we otherwise might decide to pursue. These covenants could include, among other things, restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, engage in certain transactions, and pay additional dividends or make other distributions to our stockholders. The incurrence of indebtedness pursuant to a new credit facility also will require us to incur interest expense charges and other debt-related fees that could adversely affect our financial condition and cash flows.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits

Exhibit 31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

20

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC.
Date: August 8, 2012	By:	/S/    G. EDWARD EVANS
		G. Edward Evans, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: August 8, 2012	By:	/S/    ROBERT JUNKROSKI
		Robert Junkroski, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

21

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, G. Edward Evans, Chief Executive Officer of Neutral Tandem, Inc., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Neutral Tandem, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this quarterly report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 8, 2012	/S/ G. EDWARD EVANS
	G. Edward Evans
	Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Robert Junkroski, Chief Financial Officer of Neutral Tandem, Inc., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Neutral Tandem, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this quarterly report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 8, 2012	/S/    ROBERT JUNKROSKI
	Robert Junkroski
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Neutral Tandem, Inc. (the Company) for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), each of the undersigned Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifies, to the best knowledge and belief of the signatory, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/S/    G. EDWARD EVANS	/S/    ROBERT JUNKROSKI
Chief Executive Officer	Chief Financial Officer
Date: August 8, 2012	Date: August 8, 2012

The certification set forth above is being furnished as an exhibit solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of the Form 10-Q or as a separate disclosure document of the Company or the certifying officers.

XML

Stock Option Plan Activity (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares, Options outstanding beginning			3,520
Shares,Granted			5
Shares, Exercised			(30)
Shares, Cancelled			(37)
Shares, Options outstanding ending	3,458		3,458
Shares, Vested or expected to Vest	3,268		3,268
Shares, Exercisable	2,715		2,715
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options outstanding beginning			$ 16.09
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted	$ 11.75	$ 14.63	$ 11.75	$ 14.73
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised			$ 2.27
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Canceled			$ 20.60
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options outstanding ending	$ 16.14		$ 16.14
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Vested or expected to vest	$ 16.13		$ 16.13
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercisable	$ 15.42		$ 15.42
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options outstanding ending	$ 7,111		$ 7,111
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Vested or expected to vest	6,720		6,720
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable	$ 6,944		$ 6,944
Weighted Average Remaining Term, Options outstanding ending, years			6 years 3 months 4 days
Weighted Average Remaining Term, vested or expected to vest, years			6 years 3 months
Weighted Average Remaining Term, Exercisable, years			5 years 9 months 7 days

XML

INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

INCOME TAXES

4. INCOME TAXES

Income taxes were computed using an effective tax rate, which is subject to ongoing review and evaluation by the Company. The Company’s estimated effective income tax rate was 44.6% and 52.4% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2012, compared to 39.8% and 45.3% for the same period last year.

The increase in the Company’s effective income tax rate for the both the six and three months ended June 30, 2012, as compared to both the six and three months ended June 30, 2011, was primarily due to our foreign entities’ transaction taxes and non-cash share-based compensation which are not deductible in the foreign jurisdictions of our foreign operations. In addition, during the three months ended June 30, 2012, the rate increased due to changes in the Company’s’ estimated valuation allowance recorded against our Illinois EDGE Credit tax carryforward.

We operate in multiple income tax jurisdictions both inside and outside the United States. Accordingly, we expect that the net amount of tax liability for unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next twelve months due to changes in audit status, expiration of statutes of limitations and other events which could impact our determination of unrecognized tax benefits. Currently, the Company has estimated $1.2 million as its unrecognized tax benefit. At December 31, 2011, the Company had estimated $1.0 million as its unrecognized tax benefit.

XML

Reconciliation Of Net Income To Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income	$ 3,706	$ 7,052	$ 10,361	$ 15,236
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(5,297)	1,594	(2,595)	6,357
Total comprehensive (loss) income	$ (1,591)	$ 8,646	$ 7,766	$ 21,593

XML

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, the Company is a party to legal proceedings arising in the normal course of its business. Aside from the matters discussed below, the Company does not believe that it is a party to any pending legal action that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on its business or operating results, financial position or cash flows.

Peerless Network, Inc.

Proceeding in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

As previously disclosed, on June 12, 2008, the Company commenced a patent infringement action against Peerless Network, Inc., Peerless Network of Illinois, LLC, and John Barnicle (collectively, Peerless Network) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to enforce the ‘708 Patent (Neutral Tandem, Inc. v Peerless Network, Inc., Peerless Network of Illinois, LLC and John Barnicle, 08 CV 3402 ). On July 28, 2008, Peerless Network filed a response to the Company’s complaint denying liability and asserting various affirmative defenses and counterclaims. Peerless Network generally alleged (i) that the ‘708 Patent was invalid and unenforceable under a variety of theories, (ii) that assertion of the ‘708 Patent amounted to patent misuse and violation of certain monopolization laws, and (iii) that certain conduct surrounding the litigation gave rise to tortious interference and business disparagement claims and Lanham Act violations. On December 4, 2008, the court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the claims alleging business disparagement and Lanham Act violations but denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the claims related to the allegations of tortious interference and alleged violation of certain monopolization laws. On January 27, 2010, the court issued an order construing each of the disputed terms in the patent in the manner the Company had proposed. On March 30, 2010, the court issued an order denying the Company’s motion dated August 25, 2009 for preliminary injunctive relief which sought to enjoin Peerless Network from providing certain tandem transit services.

On April 27, 2010, the court issued an order denying without prejudice the motion of Peerless Network seeking leave to file a motion to stay the patent litigation. Peerless Network sought to stay the patent litigation pending the inter partes reexamination by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the USPTO) of the validity of the ‘708 Patent, which is discussed under “Inter partes proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office “ below.

On June 1, 2010, Peerless Network filed a renewed motion asking the court to extend the trial date by nine months or stay proceedings pending the inter partes reexamination by the USPTO of the validity of the ‘708 Patent. The court heard the motion on June 8, 2010. After hearing the motion, the court issued an order that in substance removed the previously scheduled September 2010 trial date from the court’s calendar. However, the court also ordered that proceedings on the parties’ respective motions for summary judgment would continue, and the court set a ruling date on the parties’ summary judgment motions for September 1, 2010.

On September 2, 2010, the court issued an opinion and order granting Peerless Network’s motion for summary judgment. The court found that the ‘708 Patent is invalid in light of a prior patent, U.S. Patent No. 6,137,800. In light of the summary judgment ruling, the court denied the Company’s request to reinstate the trial date as moot.

The court’s September 2, 2010 order also denied the Company’s motion for summary judgment. The Company sought summary judgment on its claim that Peerless Network infringed the ‘708 Patent, as well as summary judgment on Peerless Network’s claim that the ‘708 Patent is unenforceable. At a hearing on September 22, 2010, the court allowed the Company to file a new motion for summary judgment on Peerless Network’s claim that the ‘708 Patent is unenforceable. The court also dismissed Counts IV-VII of Peerless Network’s counterclaims, which were claims against the Company based on allegations of monopolization, monopoly leveraging, violations of the Illinois Antitrust Act, and tortious interference with prospective business relations.

On December 9, 2010, the court issued an opinion and order granting the Company’s motion for summary judgment on Peerless Network’s claim that the ‘708 Patent was unenforceable based on alleged “inequitable conduct” and “patent misuse.” The court entered a final judgment with respect to all claims in the litigation on December 17, 2010.

On December 20, 2010, the Company filed notice that it planned to appeal the court’s order granting Peerless Network’s motion for summary judgment and finding that the ‘708 Patent is invalid. On January 13, 2011, Peerless Network cross-appealed the court’s order granting the Company’s motion for summary judgment and finding that the ‘708 Patent is not unenforceable, as well as the court’s earlier ruling construing disputed terms of the patent in the Company’s favor.

On June 6, 2011, Peerless Network agreed to withdraw its cross-appeal. Briefing in the Company’s appeal was completed on July 19, 2011. Oral argument in the Company’s appeal occurred on December 8, 2011. On December 13, 2011, the federal appellate court affirmed the finding that our patent is invalid, and on January 30, 2012, the appellate court denied our petition for rehearing of the December 13, 2011 ruling. The Company had the option to ask the United States Supreme Court to review that ruling. A petition for such review was due by April 30, 2012. The Company has elected not to ask the United States Supreme Court to review that ruling. As such, the district court’s ruling that the ‘708 Patent is invalid has become final and non-appealable.

On September 1, 2011, the district court issued an order that awarded approximately $102,000 in litigation-related costs to Peerless Network, and approximately $48,000 in litigation-related costs to the Company. The Company filed notice that it planned to appeal that part of the court’s order awarding costs to Peerless Network on September 30, 2011. On May 18, 2012, the Company withdrew its appeal of the district court’s award.

Peerless Network has notified us that it intends to pursue a claim for attorney’s fees in the trial court. The Company believes that a loss with respect to any such claim, if such a claim is made, is remote.

Inter partes proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office

As previously disclosed, in a separate proceeding, on January 28, 2010, Peerless Network filed a request with the USPTO requesting that the USPTO reexamine the ‘708 Patent. On March 26, 2010, the USPTO granted Peerless Network’s inter partes reexamination request and issued an initial office action which rejected the ‘708 Patent’s 23 claims. The claims of the ‘708 Patent as originally issued by the USPTO remain valid and enforceable during the USPTO reexamination proceeding. Under the USPTO’s rules, the Company was not allowed to respond to Peerless Network’s request prior to the USPTO’s initial determination.

On May 20, 2010, the USPTO granted the Company’s request to extend the time by which it must file its response to the March 26, 2010 office action from May 26, 2010 to July 26, 2010.

On April 12, 2010, the Company moved separately to suspend the inter partes reexamination proceeding in its entirety, pending resolution of the litigation between the Company and Peerless Network. On June 30, 2010, the USPTO denied the Company’s petition seeking to suspend the separate reexamination proceeding. Although the USPTO did not suspend the reexamination proceeding, the USPTO stated in its decision, among other things, that it is “appropriate to continue both [the reexamination and litigation] proceedings to obtain the results and benefits of each, as they accrue.”

On July 26, 2010, the Company responded to the USPTO’s March 26, 2010 office action. On November 24, 2010, the USPTO issued an action closing prosecution, in which the USPTO maintained its rejection of the ‘708 Patent’s 23 original claims, as well as 35 additional claims added to the ‘708 Patent in the Company’s July 26, 2010 response.

On January 7, 2011, the Company filed a response to the USPTO’s November 24, 2010 action closing prosecution. Thereafter, Peerless Network filed comments in opposition to the Company’s response on February 4, 2011.

On March 11, 2011, the USPTO issued a right of appeal notice, in which the USPTO maintained its rejection of the ‘708 Patent’s 23 original claims, as well as the 35 additional claims added to the ‘708 Patent in the Company’s July 26, 2010 response.

On April 11, 2011, the Company filed a notice of appeal of the USPTO’s decision to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (the BPAI). Peerless Network filed a notice of appeal of the USPTO’s decision to the BPAI on April 19, 2011. Briefing in those appeals was completed in December 2011.

Now that the decision of the federal district court finding our patent invalid has become final and non-appealable, proceedings at the USPTO have ended with respect to existing claims, though we have asked the BPAI to remand the matter to the USPTO in order to continue proceedings with respect to new claims. The BPAI has not yet issued a ruling on that request.

The USPTO action will determine whether the patent is valid or invalid. The USPTO will not directly assess liability against the Company or Peerless Network. For a discussion of the Company’s patent infringement claim against Peerless Network, see “Proceeding in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois” above.

Carrier Dispute

The Company has a dispute with a carrier to which it terminates voice traffic. The carrier is one of our largest customers and claims the Company has been improperly terminating long distance traffic to it in breach of the parties’ agreement. The final outcome and impact of this dispute cannot be predicted. The Company establishes accruals only for those matters where it determines that a loss is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company is not currently able to estimate reasonably the loss that it may incur, if any, in connection with this dispute. However, such loss, if any, could be material to the Company’s result of operations in the period recognized, and future periods, as could the carrier’s election to reduce its purchases of the Company’s services.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 110,199	$ 90,279
Receivables - net of allowance of $1,912 and $1,929, respectively	41,832	46,991
Deferred income taxes-current	2,968	3,227
Other current assets	10,339	6,655
Total current assets	165,338	147,152
Property and equipment - net	75,599	75,045
Intangible assets - net	26,590	28,644
Goodwill	47,285	48,137
Restricted cash	962	962
Other assets	2,454	2,870
Total assets	318,228	302,810
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	12,028	13,792
Accrued liabilities:
Taxes payable	2,592	2,567
Circuit cost	10,666	8,743
Rent	1,717	1,525
Payroll and related items	5,102	4,366
Other	3,858	2,640
Total current liabilities	35,963	33,633
Other liabilities	1,811	1,693
Deferred income taxes-noncurrent	7,691	7,806
Total liabilities	45,465	43,132
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock - par value of $.001; 50,000,000 authorized shares; no shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011
Common stock - par value of $.001; 150,000,000 authorized shares; 31,796,487 shares and 31,520,121 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	32	32
Less treasury stock, at cost; 3,083,446 shares at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011	(50,103)	(50,103)
Additional paid-in capital	190,333	185,014
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(6,941)	(4,346)
Retained earnings	139,442	129,081
Total shareholders' equity	272,763	259,678
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 318,228	$ 302,810

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DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

Organization — Neutral Tandem, Inc. d/b/a Inteliquent (the Company) provides U.S. and international voice, IP Transit, and Ethernet telecommunications services primarily on a wholesale basis. The Company offers these services using an all-IP network, which enables the Company to deliver global connectivity for a variety of media, including voice, data and video. The Company’s solutions enable carriers and other providers to deliver telecommunications traffic or other services where they do not have their own network or elect not to use their own network. These solutions are sometimes called “off-net” services. The Company also provides its solutions to customers, like content providers, who also typically do not have their own network.

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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Estimated effective income tax rate	52.40%	45.30%	44.60%	39.80%
Unrecognized tax benefit	$ 1.2		$ 1.2		$ 1.0

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Estimated Fair Value Of Options (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Share based Compensation Arrangement Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Values of Share Options Granted [Line Items]
Expected life	7 years 2 months 12 days	7 years
Risk-free interest rate	1.60%
Expected dividends
Volatility	50.50%
Minimum
Share based Compensation Arrangement Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Values of Share Options Granted [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate		2.20%
Volatility		51.00%
Maximum
Share based Compensation Arrangement Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Values of Share Options Granted [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate		2.90%
Volatility		51.90%

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation — The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements — The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012, and 2011 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The accompanying statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to interim periods. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2012 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated statements and reflect all adjustments, which are normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of its statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any subsequent quarter, for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

The carrying amounts of our cash and equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash and cash equivalents. At June 30, 2012, the Company had $20.4 million of cash in banks and $89.8 million in two money market mutual funds. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $11.5 million of cash in banks and $78.8 million in two money market mutual funds.

Property and Equipment — Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost. These costs are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets using the straight-line method. Any gains and losses from the disposition of property and equipment are included in operations as incurred. The estimated useful life for switch equipment and tools and test equipment is five years. The estimated useful life for computer equipment, computer software and furniture and fixtures is three years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of five years or the life of the lease, whichever is less. The impairment of long-lived assets is periodically evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate that a potential impairment has occurred.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net — The change in the carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets during the six months ended June 30, 2012, is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2011		Currency Translation Effect			June 30, 2012
Goodwill	$	48,137	$	(852	)	$	47,285

Intangible assets, net consist of the following:

	June 30, 2012
(Dollars in thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	$	30,434	$	(3,844	)	$	26,590
	December 31, 2011
(Dollars in thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	$	31,337	$	(2,693	)	$	28,644

Intangible assets, which consist of customer relationships, have a definite life and are amortized on an accelerated basis based on the discounted cash flows recognized over their estimated useful lives (15 years). Intangible asset amortization expense was $0.7 million and $1.3 million, in the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. Intangible asset amortization expense was $0.6 million and $1.2 million, in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. Intangible asset amortization for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is estimated at $2.5 million for 2012, $2.9 million for 2013, $2.8 million for 2014, $2.4 million for 2015 and $2.0 million in 2016.

Revenue Recognition — The Company generates revenue from sales of its voice, IP Transit, and Ethernet services. The Company maintains tariffs and executed service agreements with each of its customers in which specific fees and rates are determined. Voice revenue is recorded each month on an accrual basis based upon minutes of traffic switched by the Company’s network by each customer, which is referred to as minute of use. The rates charged per minute are determined by contracts between the Company and its customers or by filed and effective tariffs.

IP Transit revenue and Ethernet services revenue are recorded each month on an accrual basis based upon bandwidth used by each customer. The rates charged are the total of a monthly fee for bandwidth (the Committed Traffic Rate) plus additional charges for the sustained peak bandwidth used monthly in excess of the Committed Traffic Rate.

Earnings per Share — In calculating earnings per common share, we allocate our earnings between common shareholders and holders of unvested share-based payment awards (i.e. non-vested shares) that contain rights to nonforfeitable dividends. This earnings allocation is referred to as the two-class method.

Under the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated between common stock and participating securities (non-vested shares) as if all of the net earnings for the period had been distributed. Basic earnings per common share excludes dilution and is calculated by dividing net earnings allocable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net earnings allocable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, as adjusted for the potential dilutive effect of non-participating share-based awards such as stock options. The following table reconciles earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Numerator:
Net income applicable to common stockholders, as reported	$	3,706	$	7,052	$	10,361	$	15,236
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		31,791		33,987		31,728		34,119
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options		387		428		390		436
Denominator for diluted earnings per share		32,178		34,415		32,118		34,555
Net earnings per share:
Basic — as reported	$	0.12	$	0.21	$	0.33	$	0.45
Diluted — as reported	$	0.12	$	0.20	$	0.32	$	0.44

Outstanding share-based awards of 2.7 million were outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive.

The undistributed earnings allocable to participating securities were $0.1 million, $0.3 million, $0.4 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. This model takes into account the exercise price of the stock option, the fair value of the common stock underlying the stock option as measured on the date of grant and an estimation of the volatility of the common stock underlying the stock option. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures, using the straight line method. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from the Company’s current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ from the Company’s current estimates.

Compensation expense for non-vested shares is measured based upon the quoted closing market price for the stock on the date of grant. The compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. See Note 5, “Stock Options and Non-Vested Shares.”

The amount of non-cash share-based expense recorded in the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is $2.9 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The amount of non-cash share-based expense recorded in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is $6.0 million and $9.4 million, respectively.

Stock Repurchase — On February 21, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of its outstanding common stock as part of a stock repurchase program. On April 18, 2011, the Company entered into a letter agreement with Spotlight Advisors, LLC, George Allen and Clinton Group, Inc. on behalf of themselves and their respective affiliated funds, persons and entities, pursuant to which the Company agreed, subject to certain conditions, to convert its existing $50.0 million discretionary stock repurchase program into a modified “Dutch auction” tender offer. In the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company repurchased approximately 3.1 million shares at a price of $16.25 per share, for a total cost of $50.1 million, exclusive of related fees and expenses. The modified “Dutch auction” tender offer expired on June 13, 2011. The common shares purchased pursuant to the tender offer represented approximately 8.9% of the common shares outstanding as of June 10, 2011. The Company funded the purchase of the common shares in the tender offer using cash on hand. The shares were not retired as of June 30, 2012. The stock repurchases are accounted for under the cost method whereby the entire cost of the repurchased shares was recorded to treasury stock.

Foreign Currency Translation — The functional currency of each of the Company’s subsidiaries is the currency of the country in which the subsidiary operates. Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated using period end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated using average exchange rates during the period. Translation gains and losses are reported in accumulated other comprehensive earnings as a component of stockholders’ equity.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements — Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income in U.S. GAAP (ASU 2011-05) and Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2011-12). These ASUs require that comprehensive income and the related components of net income and of other comprehensive income be presented in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments did not change the items reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income is reclassified to net income. As a result, the adoption of this guidance did not affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company has presented the components in one continuous statement.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Receivables, allowance	$ 1,912	$ 1,929
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, authorized shares	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, authorized shares	150,000,000	150,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	31,796,487	31,520,121
Common stock, shares outstanding	31,796,487	31,520,121
Treasury stock, shares, at cost	3,083,446	3,083,446

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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 10, 2011	Apr. 18, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Investment	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Investment	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Investment	Feb. 21, 2011 Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Common Stock	Jun. 30, 2011 Common Stock	Jun. 30, 2012 Common Stock	Jun. 30, 2011 Common Stock	Jun. 30, 2012 Network Equipment And Tools And Test Equipment	Jun. 30, 2012 Computer Equipment, Computer Software And Furniture And Fixtures	Jun. 30, 2012 Leasehold Improvements
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Maximum term for investments to be considered cash equivalents, days						90
Cash in banks			$ 20,400,000			$ 20,400,000		$ 11,500,000
Money market mutual funds			89,800,000			89,800,000		78,800,000
Number of money market mutual funds invested			2			2		2
Estimated useful lives, years														5 years	3 years
Estimated useful lives, years																Five years or the life of the lease, whichever is less
Expected useful life for intangible assets, years						15 years
Intangible asset amortization expense			700,000	600,000		1,300,000	1,200,000
Intangible asset amortization expense for 2012			2,500,000			2,500,000
Intangible asset amortization expense for 2013			2,900,000			2,900,000
Intangible asset amortization expense for 2014			2,800,000			2,800,000
Intangible asset amortization expense for 2015			2,400,000			2,400,000
Intangible asset amortization expense for 2016			2,000,000			2,000,000
Common stock not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share										2.7	2.7	2.7	2.7
Undistributed earnings allocable to participating securities			100,000	300,000		400,000	600,000
Share-based expense			2,900,000	2,800,000	6,600,000	6,000,000	9,400,000
Common stock repurchase authorized amount		50,000,000							50,000,000
Treasury stock shares acquired							3.1
Treasury stock acquired, average cost per share							$ 16.25
Treasury stock value acquired cost method							$ 50,100
Common shares purchased pursuant to tender offer as a percentage of common shares outstanding	8.90%

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Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	IQNT
Entity Registrant Name	NEUTRAL TANDEM INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001292653
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		31,791,575

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Change in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 48,137
Currency Translation Effect	(852)
Goodwill	$ 47,285

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenue	$ 68,272	$ 65,090	$ 138,968	$ 131,508
Operating expense:
Network and facilities expense (excluding depreciation and amortization)	30,044	26,254	60,559	52,073
Operations	11,428	9,354	22,979	18,773
Sales and marketing	3,978	3,109	8,012	6,468
General and administrative	6,666	6,361	13,404	16,419
Depreciation and amortization	7,795	7,414	15,095	14,520
Gain on disposal of fixed assets	(4)	(6)	(109)	(12)
Total operating expense	59,907	52,486	119,940	108,241
Income from operations	8,365	12,604	19,028	23,267
Other expense (income):
Interest income	(12)	(17)	(15)	(30)
Other (income) expense	(18)	346	(31)	360
Foreign exchange loss (gain)	602	(622)	375	(2,385)
Total other expense (income)	572	(293)	329	(2,055)
Income before income taxes	7,793	12,897	18,699	25,322
Provision for income taxes	4,087	5,845	8,338	10,086
Net income	3,706	7,052	10,361	15,236
Net income per share:
Basic	$ 0.12	$ 0.21	$ 0.33	$ 0.45
Diluted	$ 0.12	$ 0.20	$ 0.32	$ 0.44
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	31,791	33,987	31,728	34,119
Diluted	32,178	34,415	32,118	34,555
Total comprehensive (loss) income	$ (1,591)	$ 8,646	$ 7,766	$ 21,593

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COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

7. COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

Comprehensive (loss) income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 consists of net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income includes certain changes in equity that are excluded from net income. Specifically, foreign currency translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets.

The following table reconciles net income to comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2012			June 30, 2011		June 30, 2012			June 30, 2011
Net income	$	3,706		$	7,052	$	10,361		$	15,236
Other comprehensive (loss) income		(5,297	)		1,594		(2,595	)		6,357
Total comprehensive (loss) income	$	(1,591	)	$	8,646	$	7,766		$	21,593

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

6. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Segment Reporting establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis. The Company operates in one industry segment, which is to provide voice, IP Transit and Ethernet interconnection services via the Company’s international telecommunications network to fulfill customer agreements. Therefore, the Company has concluded that it has one operating segment.

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Stock Options And Non-Vested Shares - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Year	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011 Chief Executive Officer, One-Time Acceleration And Forfeiture Of Options And Vested Shares	Mar. 31, 2011 Chief Executive Officer, One-Time Acceleration And Forfeiture Of Options And Non-Vested Shares	Jun. 30, 2012 Stock Options	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2012 Non-Vested Shares	Jun. 30, 2011 Non-Vested Shares	Jun. 30, 2012 Non-Vested Shares Equity Other Than Stock Options	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-Vested Shares Equity Other Than Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2011 Non-Vested Shares Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 2003 Plan	Jun. 30, 2012 2007 Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issuance of stock options and non-vested shares																4,700,000
Granted options outstanding	3,458,000			3,458,000		3,520,000											3,500,000
Non-vested granted shares remaining outstanding	1,205,000			1,205,000		1,096,000											1,200,000
Additional outstanding shares available for grant																	700,000
Shares available for grant as a percentage of the Company's outstanding common stock																	2.30%
Options granted	100,000	400,000	100,000	100,000	400,000
Weighted-average exercise price	$ 11.75	$ 14.63		$ 11.75	$ 14.73
Weighted-average fair value of options granted				$ 6.91	$ 8.16
Total grant date fair value of options granted				$ 3.0	$ 4.7
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised				0.3	0.9
Unrecognized compensation cost									5.9	8.5			14.3	14.3
Weighted average remaining term recorded for options, in years									2 years	2 years 2 months 12 days			2 years 7 months 6 days	2 years 4 months 24 days
Shares granted, non vested				300,000							300,000	300,000			100,000
Non-vested shares, vesting period, years				4
Closing stock price	$ 13.18			$ 13.18
Number of approved shares							200,000	100,000
Number of approved forfeited shares								100,000
Non-cash compensation expense	2.9	2.8	6.6	6.0	9.4
Allocated share based compensation expense related to acceleration							$ 2.0	$ 1.6

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Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net Intangible Assets	$ 26,590	$ 28,644
Customer Relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	30,434	31,337
Accumulated Amortization	(3,844)	(2,693)
Net Intangible Assets	$ 26,590	$ 28,644

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STOCK OPTIONS AND NON-VESTED SHARES (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Estimated Fair Value of Options

The following table summarizes the assumptions used for estimating the fair value of options for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011:

	June 30, 2012	June 30, 2011
Expected life	7.2 years	7.0 years
Risk-free interest rate	1.6%	2.2% — 2.9%
Expected dividends	—	—
Volatility	50.5%	51.0% — 51.9%

Stock Option Plan Activity

The following summarizes activity under the Company’s stock option plan for the six months ended June 30, 2012:

	Shares (000)			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)		Weighted- Average Remaining Term (yrs)
Options outstanding — January 1, 2012		3,520		$	16.09
Granted		5			11.75
Exercised		(30	)		2.27
Cancelled		(37	)		20.60
Options outstanding — June 30, 2012		3,458		$	16.14	$	7,111		6.26
Vested or expected to vest-June 30, 2012		3,268		$	16.13	$	6,720		6.25
Exercisable-June 30, 2012		2,715		$	15.42	$	6,944		5.77

Non-Vested Share Activity Information

A summary of the Company’s non-vested share activity and related information for the six months ended June 30, 2012 is as follows:

	Shares (000)			Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)
Non-vested shares outstanding — January 1, 2012		1,096		$	14.47
Granted		300			12.15
Vested		(191	)		14.86
Cancelled		—			—
Non-vested shares outstanding — June 30, 2012		1,205		$	13.83		15,882
Non-vested shares vested or expected to vest — June 30, 2012		1,139		$	13.83		15,008

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation — The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements — The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012, and 2011 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The accompanying statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to interim periods. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2012 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated statements and reflect all adjustments, which are normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of its statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any subsequent quarter, for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

The carrying amounts of our cash and equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash and cash equivalents. At June 30, 2012, the Company had $20.4 million of cash in banks and $89.8 million in two money market mutual funds. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $11.5 million of cash in banks and $78.8 million in two money market mutual funds.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment — Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost. These costs are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets using the straight-line method. Any gains and losses from the disposition of property and equipment are included in operations as incurred. The estimated useful life for switch equipment and tools and test equipment is five years. The estimated useful life for computer equipment, computer software and furniture and fixtures is three years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of five years or the life of the lease, whichever is less. The impairment of long-lived assets is periodically evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate that a potential impairment has occurred.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net — The change in the carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets during the six months ended June 30, 2012, is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2011		Currency Translation Effect			June 30, 2012
Goodwill	$	48,137	$	(852	)	$	47,285

Intangible assets, net consist of the following:

	June 30, 2012
(Dollars in thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	$	30,434	$	(3,844	)	$	26,590
	December 31, 2011
(Dollars in thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	$	31,337	$	(2,693	)	$	28,644

Intangible assets, which consist of customer relationships, have a definite life and are amortized on an accelerated basis based on the discounted cash flows recognized over their estimated useful lives (15 years). Intangible asset amortization expense was $0.7 million and $1.3 million, in the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. Intangible asset amortization expense was $0.6 million and $1.2 million, in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. Intangible asset amortization for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is estimated at $2.5 million for 2012, $2.9 million for 2013, $2.8 million for 2014, $2.4 million for 2015 and $2.0 million in 2016.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition — The Company generates revenue from sales of its voice, IP Transit, and Ethernet services. The Company maintains tariffs and executed service agreements with each of its customers in which specific fees and rates are determined. Voice revenue is recorded each month on an accrual basis based upon minutes of traffic switched by the Company’s network by each customer, which is referred to as minute of use. The rates charged per minute are determined by contracts between the Company and its customers or by filed and effective tariffs.

IP Transit revenue and Ethernet services revenue are recorded each month on an accrual basis based upon bandwidth used by each customer. The rates charged are the total of a monthly fee for bandwidth (the Committed Traffic Rate) plus additional charges for the sustained peak bandwidth used monthly in excess of the Committed Traffic Rate.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per Share — In calculating earnings per common share, we allocate our earnings between common shareholders and holders of unvested share-based payment awards (i.e. non-vested shares) that contain rights to nonforfeitable dividends. This earnings allocation is referred to as the two-class method.

Under the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated between common stock and participating securities (non-vested shares) as if all of the net earnings for the period had been distributed. Basic earnings per common share excludes dilution and is calculated by dividing net earnings allocable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net earnings allocable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, as adjusted for the potential dilutive effect of non-participating share-based awards such as stock options. The following table reconciles earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Numerator:
Net income applicable to common stockholders, as reported	$	3,706	$	7,052	$	10,361	$	15,236
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		31,791		33,987		31,728		34,119
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options		387		428		390		436
Denominator for diluted earnings per share		32,178		34,415		32,118		34,555
Net earnings per share:
Basic — as reported	$	0.12	$	0.21	$	0.33	$	0.45
Diluted — as reported	$	0.12	$	0.20	$	0.32	$	0.44

Outstanding share-based awards of 2.7 million were outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive.

The undistributed earnings allocable to participating securities were $0.1 million, $0.3 million, $0.4 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. This model takes into account the exercise price of the stock option, the fair value of the common stock underlying the stock option as measured on the date of grant and an estimation of the volatility of the common stock underlying the stock option. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures, using the straight line method. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from the Company’s current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ from the Company’s current estimates.

Compensation expense for non-vested shares is measured based upon the quoted closing market price for the stock on the date of grant. The compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. See Note 5, “Stock Options and Non-Vested Shares.”

The amount of non-cash share-based expense recorded in the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is $2.9 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The amount of non-cash share-based expense recorded in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is $6.0 million and $9.4 million, respectively.

Stock Repurchase

Stock Repurchase — On February 21, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of its outstanding common stock as part of a stock repurchase program. On April 18, 2011, the Company entered into a letter agreement with Spotlight Advisors, LLC, George Allen and Clinton Group, Inc. on behalf of themselves and their respective affiliated funds, persons and entities, pursuant to which the Company agreed, subject to certain conditions, to convert its existing $50.0 million discretionary stock repurchase program into a modified “Dutch auction” tender offer. In the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company repurchased approximately 3.1 million shares at a price of $16.25 per share, for a total cost of $50.1 million, exclusive of related fees and expenses. The modified “Dutch auction” tender offer expired on June 13, 2011. The common shares purchased pursuant to the tender offer represented approximately 8.9% of the common shares outstanding as of June 10, 2011. The Company funded the purchase of the common shares in the tender offer using cash on hand. The shares were not retired as of June 30, 2012. The stock repurchases are accounted for under the cost method whereby the entire cost of the repurchased shares was recorded to treasury stock.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation — The functional currency of each of the Company’s subsidiaries is the currency of the country in which the subsidiary operates. Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated using period end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated using average exchange rates during the period. Translation gains and losses are reported in accumulated other comprehensive earnings as a component of stockholders’ equity.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements — Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income in U.S. GAAP (ASU 2011-05) and Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2011-12). These ASUs require that comprehensive income and the related components of net income and of other comprehensive income be presented in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments did not change the items reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income is reclassified to net income. As a result, the adoption of this guidance did not affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company has presented the components in one continuous statement.

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Change in Carrying Amount of Goodwill

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets during the six months ended June 30, 2012, is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2011		Currency Translation Effect			June 30, 2012
Goodwill	$	48,137	$	(852	)	$	47,285

Intangible Assets, Net

Intangible assets, net consist of the following:

	June 30, 2012
(Dollars in thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	$	30,434	$	(3,844	)	$	26,590
	December 31, 2011
(Dollars in thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	$	31,337	$	(2,693	)	$	28,644

Earnings Per Share

The following table reconciles earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Numerator:
Net income applicable to common stockholders, as reported	$	3,706	$	7,052	$	10,361	$	15,236
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		31,791		33,987		31,728		34,119
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options		387		428		390		436
Denominator for diluted earnings per share		32,178		34,415		32,118		34,555
Net earnings per share:
Basic — as reported	$	0.12	$	0.21	$	0.33	$	0.45
Diluted — as reported	$	0.12	$	0.20	$	0.32	$	0.44

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COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Reconciliation Of Net Income to Comprehensive Income

The following table reconciles net income to comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2012			June 30, 2011		June 30, 2012			June 30, 2011
Net income	$	3,706		$	7,052	$	10,361		$	15,236
Other comprehensive (loss) income		(5,297	)		1,594		(2,595	)		6,357
Total comprehensive (loss) income	$	(1,591	)	$	8,646	$	7,766		$	21,593

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Legal Proceedings - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 01, 2011	Mar. 11, 2011 LegalMatter	Jul. 26, 2010 LegalMatter
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Litigation costs receivables	$ 48,000
Number of original claims, rejected		23
Patent new claims, rejected			35
Peerless Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Litigation costs payable	$ 102,000

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Non-Vested Share Activity Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares, Non-vested shares outstanding beginning	1,096
Shares, Granted	300
Shares, Vested	(191)
Shares, Cancelled
Shares, Non-vested shares outstanding ending	1,205
Shares, Non-vested shares vested or expected to vest	1,139
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested shares outstanding beginning	$ 14.47
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted	$ 12.15
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested	$ 14.86
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Cancelled
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested shares outstanding ending	$ 13.83
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Non-vested shares vested or expected to vest	$ 13.83
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Non-vested shares outstanding ending	$ 15,882
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Non-vested shares vested or expected to vest	$ 15,008

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 10,361	$ 15,236
Adjustments to reconcile net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	15,095	14,520
Deferred income taxes	(13)	(815)
Gain on disposal of fixed assets	(109)	(12)
Non-cash share-based compensation	6,027	9,427
Loss on intercompany foreign exchange transactions	297
Excess tax deficiency associated with share-based payments	120	43
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	4,568	(4,612)
Other current assets	(3,927)	(410)
Other noncurrent assets	120	(2,784)
Accounts payable	(1,366)	(3,086)
Accrued liabilities	4,295	3,099
Noncurrent liabilities	178	272
Net cash flows from operating activities	35,646	30,878
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchase of equipment	(14,869)	(12,805)
Proceeds from sale of equipment	107	12
Purchase of other investments		(500)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(14,762)	(13,293)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	69	160
Restricted shares withheld to cover employee taxes paid	(657)	(668)
Excess tax deficiency associated with share-based payments	(120)	(43)
Payments made for repurchase of common stock		(50,106)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(708)	(50,657)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(256)	200
Net Increase (Decrease) In Cash And Cash Equivalents	19,920	(32,872)
Cash And Cash Equivalents - Beginning	90,279	106,674
Cash And Cash Equivalents - End	110,199	73,802
Supplemental Disclosure Of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for taxes	9,536	9,891
Supplemental Disclosure Of Noncash Flow Items:
Investing Activity - Accrued purchases of equipment	$ 6,514	$ 4,090

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STOCK OPTIONS AND NON-VESTED SHARES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

STOCK OPTIONS AND NON-VESTED SHARES

5. STOCK OPTIONS AND NON-VESTED SHARES

The Company established the 2003 Stock Option and Stock Incentive Plan (2003 Plan), which provided for the issuance of up to 4.7 million options and non-vested shares to eligible employees, officers, and independent contractors of the Company. In 2007 the Company adopted the Neutral Tandem, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (2007 Plan) and ceased awarding equity grants under the 2003 Plan. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had granted a total of 3.5 million options and 1.2 million non-vested shares that remained outstanding under the 2007 Plan. Awards for 0.7 million shares, representing approximately 2.3% of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of June 30, 2012, remained available for additional grants under the 2007 Plan.

The Company records stock-based compensation expense in connection with any grant of options and non-vested shares to its employees and independent contractors. The Company calculates the expense associated with its stock options and non-vested shares by determining the fair value of the options and non-vested shares.

Options

All options granted under the 2003 Plan and the 2007 Plan have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of the grant. During both the three and six months ended, June 30, 2012, the Company granted less than 0.1 million options at a weighted-average exercise price of $11.75. During the both the three six months ended, June 30, 2011, the Company granted 0.4 million options at a weighted-average exercise price of $14.63 and $14.73, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company granted less than 0.1 million options.

The fair value of each option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following table summarizes the assumptions used for estimating the fair value of options for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011:

	June 30, 2012	June 30, 2011
Expected life	7.2 years	7.0 years
Risk-free interest rate	1.6%	2.2% — 2.9%
Expected dividends	—	—
Volatility	50.5%	51.0% — 51.9%

The weighted-average fair value of options granted, as determined by using the Black-Scholes valuation model, during the period was $6.91 and $8.16 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The total grant date fair value of options that vested during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $3.0 million and $4.7 million, respectively. The total intrinsic value (market value of stock option less option exercise price) of stock options exercised was $0.3 million and $0.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The following summarizes activity under the Company’s stock option plan for the six months ended June 30, 2012:

	Shares (000)			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)		Weighted- Average Remaining Term (yrs)
Options outstanding — January 1, 2012		3,520		$	16.09
Granted		5			11.75
Exercised		(30	)		2.27
Cancelled		(37	)		20.60
Options outstanding — June 30, 2012		3,458		$	16.14	$	7,111		6.26
Vested or expected to vest-June 30, 2012		3,268		$	16.13	$	6,720		6.25
Exercisable-June 30, 2012		2,715		$	15.42	$	6,944		5.77

The unrecognized compensation cost associated with options outstanding at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was $5.9 million and $8.5 million, respectively. The weighted average remaining term that the compensation will be recorded is 2.0 years and 2.2 years as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Non-vested Shares

During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company granted 0.3 million non-vested shares to members of the Company’s executive management team as well as various employees within the Company. No shares were issued during the three months ended June 30, 2012. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company granted less than 0.1 million and 0.3 million non-vested shares to members of the Company’s executive management team as well as various employees within the Company. The non-vested shares were issued as part of the 2007 plan. The shares typically vest over a four year period. The fair value of the non-vested shares is determined using the Company’s closing stock price on the grant date. Compensation cost, measured using the grant date fair value, is recognized over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis.

A summary of the Company’s non-vested share activity and related information for the six months ended June 30, 2012 is as follows:

	Shares (000)			Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)
Non-vested shares outstanding — January 1, 2012		1,096		$	14.47
Granted		300			12.15
Vested		(191	)		14.86
Cancelled		—			—
Non-vested shares outstanding — June 30, 2012		1,205		$	13.83		15,882
Non-vested shares vested or expected to vest — June 30, 2012		1,139		$	13.83		15,008

The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value based on the Company’s closing stock price of $13.18 on June 30, 2012. The amount changes based upon the fair market value of the Company’s common stock.

The unrecognized compensation cost associated with non-vested shares at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was $14.3 million and $14.3 million, respectively. The weighted average remaining term that the compensation will be recorded is 2.6 years and 2.4 years as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, Rian J. Wren, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since 2006, announced his decision to retire from the Company on March 31, 2011. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors following his retirement. As a result of this decision, the Board approved the acceleration of the vesting on approximately 0.2 million options and 0.1 million non-vested shares, in addition to the forfeiture of 0.1 million non-vested shares. All options and non-vested shares were fully vested as of March 31, 2011. Non-cash share-based compensation expense of $6.6 million recorded in the first quarter 2011 included $2.0 million related to the acceleration of options and $1.6 million related to the acceleration of non-vested shares.

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Additional Information (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments	1

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Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net income applicable to common stockholders, as reported	$ 3,706	$ 7,052	$ 10,361	$ 15,236
Weighted average common shares outstanding	31,791	33,987	31,728	34,119
Stock options	387	428	390	436
Denominator for diluted earnings per share	32,178	34,415	32,118	34,555
Basic - as reported	$ 0.12	$ 0.21	$ 0.33	$ 0.45
Diluted - as reported	$ 0.12	$ 0.20	$ 0.32	$ 0.44