Windstream expands SDNow availability, signs hyperscale services customer

Windstream (NASDAQ:WIN) says it now offers its SDN Orchestrated Waves (SDNow) transport service in 50 markets across the country. The service provider also revealed that an international hyperscale cloud services provider has contracted for the installation of 21 optical wavelengths running at 100 Gbps.

As its name implies, SDNow leverages software-defined networking (SDN) principles to enable Windstream to meet data center cloud applications with multi-vendor service orchestration and automated provisioning across the operator's long-haul core fiber-optic network (see "Windstream Wholesale offers SDN orchestrated wavelength services via SDNow"). Windstream says the approach enables customers to order 10G point-to-point circuits for 1,500 long-haul route combinations, with delivery in 20 days.

"This SDNow expansion brings the benefits of SDN-provisioned service to even more transport customers across our national footprint – a definite game-changer for Windstream," said Joseph Harding, executive vice president and enterprise chief marketing officer at Windstream. "With its accelerated 20-day service delivery, SDNow will allow Windstream customers to advance their cloud migration and digital transformation efforts with the increased speed, agility and efficiency required for business innovation and success."

Jeff Brown, director of product management and product marketing at Windstream, will discuss the underpinnings and benefits of SDNow at Lightwave's Open Optical Conference November 2, 2017, in Dallas.

Meanwhile, Windstream says its international hyperscale cloud services provider will use the 21 waves to create a redundant overlay network that offers full route diversity. The new fiber-optic network infrastructure also will improve resiliency and reduce latency.

"Windstream has a solid history of providing secure, high-bandwidth connectivity solutions to hyperscale cloud providers in search of vendor and route diversity, and delivering the reliable services they need to boost their competitive advantage," said Mike Shippey, president of Windstream Wholesale, in describing the contract award. "Our expansive, nationwide fiber network is rich with unique low-latency route options – including those acquired with our EarthLink merger, as well as the newly completed routes in our West Coast markets. Quite simply, Windstream's network was the differentiator for this customer, allowing them to continue advancing business innovation, growth and success."

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