Windstream targets 50,000 homes in North Carolina for Kinetic IPTV

Windstream filed a cable TV franchise agreement with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State to bring its Kinetic IPTV television service to over 50,000 homes, challenging cable MSO Charter Communications in 13 of the state's communities.

Offering TV is just one part of the telco’s intentions. The service provider plans to simultaneously deliver higher speed services via its emerging 1 Gbps-capable FTTH network and the adoption of VDSL2 and vectoring over its existing copper facilities.

North Carolina will be the fourth Kinetic TV market following successful launches over the last two years in Lincoln, Nebraska, Lexington, Kentucky, and Sugar Land, Texas.  

Similar to other markets like Lexington, Windstream is leveraging the Ericsson Mediaroom platform to deliver a series of interactive television features such as Video On-Demand and Instant Channel Change. The service will also satisfy the mobile user with the Kinetic On The Go feature, which allows users to watch their favorite shows from anywhere using a desktop computer, tablet, laptop or smartphone.

In April, Windstream announced it would bring its 1 Gbps service to seven communities in the North Carolina market: China Grove, Concord, Davidson, Harrisburg, Kannapolis, Lewisville and Matthews. As a result, Windstream will serve about 35,000 residential and small business customers.

However, it did not reveal whether it would also offer the 1 Gbps service across the 13 communities where it will offer IPTV service.

By offering IPTV and higher speed services in more markets, Windstream hopes to reverse the broadband subscriber losses it has seen in recent quarters. During the second quarter, Windstream lost over 16,000 broadband subs. Despite the decline, the service provider noted that more of its customers are purchasing 50 and 75 Mbps services in the markets where these options are available.

Windstream contends that by upgrading its last mile networks with copper-based VDSL2 and vectoring as well as FTTH in select markets, it has an opportunity to win back customers and attract newer ones purchasing higher speeds. The telco noted that more of its customers are taking 50 and 75 Mbps services in the markets where these options are available.

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