Windstream ramps fiber, wavelength connectivity to data center providers

Windstream may be in the process of selling off its data center business, but the service provider will still play a prominent role in that industry segment by providing fiber and related wavelength services via its Carrier Solutions group.

Part of that will be driven through its ongoing build out of its 500G optical network, including newly built routes in Miami.

In Miami and surrounding areas like Jacksonville, Fla., Windstream has connected its fiber network to a number of key data center providers such as Cologix, which has been expanding its data center footprint via a number of targeted acquisitions.

Jeff Brown, director of product marketing and product management for Windstream Carrier Solutions, told FierceTelecom that it continues to connect more third-party data centers with its wavelength services and fiber facilities.

"Data center interconnect, or what we call internally DCI, is something we have been focused on for a long time, but the product itself is our wavelength product," Brown said. "Externally you don't see a lot of mention of DCI terminology, but internally it's definitely an area where we target growth."

Data centers are a big part of the 10,000 on-net buildings Windstream has connected to its fiber network. Providing access to a greater amount of data centers means that Windstream can better respond to a host of wholesale and business customers need to access an array of cloud services and get access to major Internet access points.

"Data center is another data point to highlight in those 10,000 buildings how many of those are well-known data centers people are interested in getting to," Brown said.

As it expands its fiber and wavelength services to more locations, Windstream is incorporating new software into its customer portal that will allow business and wholesale customers to request a service quote at a particular building or data center location.

Brown said this capability will be available sometime later this year, but did not provide a specific date yet.

"We have something coming out that you can request a quote from an address so if you see an address you're interested in you can click on a button and request a quote," Brown said.

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