News
Windstream Wholesale, one of three brands managed by Windstream, has completed two projects that enhanced existing fiber routes with upgraded capacity in Virginia.
Two Virginia fiber routes labeled as part of Windstream’s Nationwide Intelligent Converged Optical Network (ICON) have enhanced their network capacities with FLEX DWDM (FLEX) technology to enable 400G wave service, managed spectrum service, and greater visibility into network health.
Windstream, which announced the upgrades yesterday, stated that technologies like inline optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDR) have been engineered into fiber routes leading from Ashburn to Richmond, and at the subsea Virginia Beach cable landing station. The company’s announcement said the upgrades to the Virgnia Beach cable landing station “opens new avenues for international connectivity.”
Inline optical time-domain reflectometers can dramatically reduce mean time to repair “in the event of a network interference or fiber cut, providing the ability to locate the interference without physically deploying resources,” according to Windstream.
Further completed upgrades to the Ashburn to Richmond fiber route will now support a network that serves as a “vital connection between key data centers,” according to Windstream.
The networks, now equipped with Ciena’s 6500 Reconfigurable Line System (RLS), will offer “enhanced reliability, flexibility, and scalability to meet their growing connectivity needs,” according to Windstream’s March 18 release.
John Nishimoto, Windstream Wholesale’s senior vice president of product, marketing, and strategy, said the enhancements represent Windstream’s “steadfast commitment to technology leadership.”
The upgrades also provide cost-benefits to Windstream by “eliminating the need to bookend equipment to jump between long-haul and regional networks,” the company’s release stated.
“As technology continues to evolve, so do the demands placed on networks,” said Joe Scattareggia, Windstream Wholesale president.
Scattareggia’s comments were included with Windstream’s announcement.
“With these new route initiatives, we are not only meeting but exceeding the connectivity expectations of our customers, ensuring they remain ahead of the curve,” he said.
