Windstream (NASDAQ:WIN) is the latest operator to dip its toe into the gigabit broadband waters. The service provider has launched a trial of 1-Gbps Internet services in Lexington, KY. The trial comes as Windstream plans to launch similar capabilities in five markets during the first half of 2016.
Assuming the Lexington trial is successful, Windstream says it also will offer gigabit broadband to residences and small businesses in Lincoln, NE; Sugar Land, TX; and Concord and Matthews, NC, during the first six months of next year. Windstream also plans to offer its Kinetic video services in Lincoln and Lexington as well.
On top of the gigabit services, Windstream's recently announced it will offer Internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps to more than 800 markets. It also has launched Project Excel, a $250 million network infrastructure improvement program designed to upgrade its fiber-fed DSLAMs to VDSL2 as well as its backhaul packet transport network. Windstream will fund the project via proceeds from the sale of its data center operations to TierPoint (see "Windstream to sell data center business to TierPoint"), a deal which just closed.
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