Windstream introduced a wholesale Carrier Switched Ethernet service that provides other carriers with access to Windstream’s ILEC footprint.
Carrier Switched Ethernet provides wholesale carriers access to 980 exchanges within the Windstream network. With the solution, interconnect ports of 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, and 10 Gbps are available, and end user loops from 3 Mbps to 1 Gbps are supported.
“To have a competitive advantage in today’s market, carriers must have the ability to provide end-user-to-WAN connectivity to their customers,” said Don Perkins, Windstream Vice President of Business Marketing. “Carrier Switched Ethernet will extend the ability for our carriers to reach 90 percent or more of the businesses in Windstream’s ILEC footprint with Ethernet access. This increased reach—coupled with the scalability of Ethernet—will provide our carrier customers with the ability to efficiently and effectively deploy robust WAN solutions to their end-users that would otherwise be difficult to reach.”http://www.windstream.com
- In December 2011, Windstream completed its previously announced acquisition of PAETEC Holding Corp. for approximately $2.3 billion.
In December 2010, PAETEC acquired privately-owned Cavalier Telephone for $460 million, making it one of the largest competitive local communication service providers in the United States. The acquisition includes Cavalier’s wholly owned subsidiary, Intellifiber Networks, which operates a high capacity fiber network spanning approximately 16,600 route miles and representing over $2 billion of investment by companies Cavalier acquired over the last decade.
In June 2010, Windstream acquired Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $1.2 billion. As of March 31, 2010, Iowa Telecom provided service to approximately 249,000 access lines, 96,000 high-speed Internet customers and 27,500 digital TV customers in Iowa and Minnesota.
In July 2006, Alltel completed the spin off its wireline business, which was merged with VALOR Communications Group to create Windstream, a major wireline operator focused on the rural U.S. market.