Windstream Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:WIN) is the latest communication company to join the Open Network Automation Platform Project. The move underscores the company’s commitment to working with peers in supporting breakthroughs and innovations in the communication space.
ONAP Collaboration
By joining ONAP, Windstream should be able to leverage some of the resources on offer to optimize technology standardization. ONAP also offers the company an opportunity to evolve and enhance its solution offerings across various customer segments.
“Partnering with ONAP brings about groundbreaking collaborative possibilities for Windstream as we work with other organization members and the Linux Foundation to share best-in-class technologies and resources,” said vice president of application development, Mark Wyman
Creating a harmonized and comprehensive framework for real-time software automation is the ONAP Project’s core objective. It was formed through the merger of Open Source ECOMP and Open Orchestrator Project. The Project includes participation from networking suppliers as well as cloud providers and industry leading service providers.
Georgia 1-Gig Service Expansion
Separately, Windstream has expanded its 1Gbps internet service to 15 North Georgia communities. The expansion is part of a plan that seeks to bring extensive network upgrades to the people of Georgia. Some of the communities covered by the expansion include, Byron, Blairsville, Cleveland, and Colbert. The service is also available in Nebraska, Lincoln, Lexington Kentucky and Sugar Land.
Windstream expects customers in the covered areas to enjoy access to music, TV shows and HD movies over the internet with the 1-Gig service. Plans are also underway to extend the service to cover other areas in the state.
Copper Retirement Stand Off
Wireless carriers in the US are maintaining divergent views on how long it should take for copper retirement in the industry. In 2015, the Federal Communication Commission passed an order where carriers and businesses were given six months to shut down copper facilities and residential customers were given 3 months.
Fast forward, the FCC Chairman is considering reversing the rules. The sentiments have not gone well with industry players who are maintaining conflicting opinions. Centurylink Inc. (NYSE:CTL) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) are against an extension of the copper retirement period. The two carriers fear that such a move will delay migrations to fiber from copper.
Verizon says that ever since it migrated customers to fiber, its network maintenance costs have considerably reduced. The carrier now wants the agency to retire copper across all the eight affected states. Windstream on its part is in favor of a longer duration.
Windstream stock was up by 1.69% in Tuesday’s trading session to end the day at $4.21 a share.
