Windstream Invests in Charlotte Metro Fiber Network to Connect Local Data Centers & Commercial Buildings to National Backbone

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 16, 2016 -- Windstream (NASDAQ:WIN), a leading provider of advanced network communications, today announced that it has completed a major expansion of its advanced metro fiber network in the Charlotte area. Windstream’s investment will provide Charlotte’s growing mid-market business community with world-class infrastructure that connects even more local data centers and commercial buildings with Windstream’s high-speed, highly available nationwide fiber network.

Charlotte is the first market to benefit from Windstream’s initiative to invest in local metro fiber networks that will support companies in the banking, financial services, education, healthcare, government, hospitality and retail industries, among others. Additional major markets like Nashville and Richmond will launch throughout 2016.

“Windstream’s expansion of its metro fiber network is great news for Charlotte’s business community because it is a critical building block for economic growth, innovation and job creation in our city,” said Ames Flynn, Chief Information Officer, Extended Stay America Hotels. “Windstream is bringing a next generation, reliable and flexible fiber network supporting the latest technology applications to Charlotte, and that investment is important to our continued growth.”

Windstream’s investment in its local metro fiber network will connect the company’s national fiber network to several of Charlotte’s major data center complexes and commercial buildings in the SouthPark, Uptown and University areas of Charlotte. This expansion will give Charlotte companies direct connectivity to major markets across the country, and it also will enable corporate customers to utilize the enterprise-class data, voice, network and cloud services that Windstream customers in other major markets use as the foundation of their technology strategy.

“We are excited to expand our footprint in Charlotte because it is one of the nation’s most vibrant cities full of dynamic companies that need world-class technology infrastructure options to fuel their continued growth,” said Eric Warren, regional president of enterprise sales for Windstream’s south region. “We are lighting local buildings in Charlotte, and this network infrastructure makes the Queen City one of the best-connected cities in the country. This is a big, ambitious project that will have a major economic impact on Charlotte, and we are proud to be supporting the city’s business community in this important way.”

For more information on Windstream and the company’s Charlotte network expansion, visit windstreambusiness.com. 

About Windstream
Windstream Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:WIN), a FORTUNE 500 company, is a leading provider of advanced network communications and technology solutions for consumers, small businesses, enterprise organizations and carrier partners across the U.S. Windstream offers bundled services, including broadband, security solutions, voice and digital TV to consumers. The company also provides data, cloud solutions, unified communications and managed services to business and enterprise clients. The company supplies core transport solutions on a local and long-haul fiber-optic network spanning approximately 125,000 miles. Additional information is available at windstream.com. Please visit our newsroom at news.windstream.com or follow us on Twitter at @WindstreamNews.

About Extended Stay America
Based in Charlotte, N.C., Extended Stay America has 629 locations in the U.S. and Canada. The company owns and operates hotels under the brand, Extended Stay America ®, which serves the mid-priced extended stay segment. It is the largest owner/operator of company-branded hotels in North America and employs approximately 9,000 employees in its hotel properties and headquarters.

Windstream Media Contact:
Tanja Jameson, 501-748-7236
[email protected]