Windstream has added Nashville to the growing list of last mile network builds, announcing an expansion of its metro fiber network in the Nashville area to address local businesses on its own infrastructure.
When this expansion is complete, the provider will serve the Nashville area's business community with a mix of fiber and fixed wireless network connectivity that it says connects a larger set of local data centers and commercial business buildings to its fiber network.
The expansion of the local metro fiber network and the addition of complementary broadband wireless service will connect the telco's national fiber network to major data center complexes and commercial buildings in Nashville, including the Downtown, West End/Elliston Place, Midtown/Vanderbilt, Green Hills, Brentwood, Airport/Donelson and Cool Springs areas.
The expansion has broader implications for local businesses. Business customers will be able to get direct connections to major markets across the country, and it will enable business customers to utilize the data, voice, network and cloud services that Windstream customers in other major markets use to support their technology strategies.
One of the local businesses affected by the Nashville buildout will be Benefit Communications, a provider of benefit enrollment, communications, data management and staffing solutions.
James Hunt, Jr., co-managing director and co-owner of Benefit Communications, said that the rapid growth of Nashville's economy has created challenges and a number of local businesses "have felt ignored by some of the largest network providers."
"Windstream's fiber and fixed wireless expansion in the Nashville area will help businesses like us have faster, more reliable and more affordable access to last-mile connectivity," Hunt said.
Nashville is just one of several markets where Windstream is expanding its metro fiber network directly to serve more businesses over its own network. Thus far in 2016, the service provider expanded its metro fiber network in the Richmond, Virginia area as well as Charlotte, North Carolina. Additional fiber network expansions are also planned for Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cleveland and Philadelphia for 2016.
Tony Thomas, CEO of Windstream, recently told investors during an event that "we'll be launching seven more markets this year" with additional fiber builds.
Extending its metro network to more buildings in its territories affords Windstream with two benefits: the ability to better control the customer experience over its own network and reduce the reliance on using third-parties like AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) for last mile network access.
For more:
- see the release
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