A decade ago, a five-by-seven-inch equipment card that plugged into a large equipment chassis and required five to ten rack units, supported 40G. Today, 400G can be achieved on a plugin that is 3.5 inches long and less than an inch wide in a single rack unit (1.75-inch high) “pizza box.”
Managed Spectrum provides a block of photonic capacity measured in GHz to interconnect two locations within a metropolitan area, or across the country. The unique benefit to our customers is that it provides the scalability of dark fiber without the capital costs or operational overhead of building, managing, and maintaining a fiber network.
Learn the details about why Windstream’s next-generation ICON network is so unique and beneficial to the market.
The Silicon Valley recipe for success involves a frenzied drive for growth at all costs. Put a minimum viable product out there before the competition does, give a substantial portion of the company’s services away and figure-out the business model later. Above all, reach that critical adoption threshold. This innovation and adoption-first mindset has disrupted many an industry and created many new household names –and shows no sign of slowing down.
The fruits of this approach are apparent. Internet-based companies (one of the many shorthand’s for these hyper-growth companies), are the single biggest drivers of the current explosion in network capacity. That’s a testament to the success of content powerhouses – and to the rapid growth of smaller players that are winning new users at amazing rates.
Yet the inexorable race towards mainstream adoption can sometimes blind companies to easily preventable risks. Whether a content provider is a startup or gearing-up to that next round of funding, a little preparation can go a long way towards minimizing disruption when they hit the inflection point. Peer-to-peer online gaming sites, content sharing pages and IoT service providers alike can suddenly hit their network capacity wall, bringing the user experience to a grinding halt.
That’s why every content provider should have an “inflection point plan” ready with their network infrastructure provider to accommodate plentiful capacity and connections through periods of hyper growth. This contingency plan should include one or more of the following building blocks:
While you won’t need all of these capabilities from the get-go, you’ll want to have them in place prior to reaching explosive growth. It’s all about hitting the ground running with the right wholesale services partner, ready to grow with you in resiliency and scalability at any and all inflection points.
Having a growth “contingency plan” is key. Nobody wants to be the person responsible for crashing the customer experience, especially at that critical moment when everybody is watching. That amounts to being a victim of your own success, a potentially ironic ending to a great content offering. There’s no need to give your competitors an edge. Windstream Wholesale can help you plan for success with expertise in content and media services to ensure you never come close to reaching that point.
Summary: Streaming content providers are plenty, and maintaining subscriber growth and rising content costs are challenges they all face.
With the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones coming to a wrap, the hype surrounding this award-winning television series has been enormous. Whether or not you are part of the 30 million viewers that have been following the blood feuds and rivalries or George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire, the show’s “win or die” truism would appear to have broad applicability, well beyond Westeros.
The stage for a real-life war among content streaming providers is set as well. The prize here is not some rusty throne cast from the swords of a thousand vanquished opponents. Rather, it’s an ever-growing market of streaming media customers. Consumers keep “cutting the cord” from “take-it-or-leave” bloated, conventional programming bundles, creating a huge opportunity for the winner.
Fierce competition
Of course, reality is stranger than fiction. The number of companies with claims to the content “throne” is much greater than the six kings and queens vying for the iron throne. With so much future revenue at stake, greater competition, from both incumbents and new entrants, is here in the form of new offers. Many would agree this space has already become over-crowded with established brands and potential disruptors. Consider the intense competition to deliver Video on Demand (VoD) services in the U.S.:2
More competition is also emerging from “old school” pay TV providers; desperate to retain customers and revenues, they are finally motivated to break up “one size fits all” programming bundles into more tailored packages or à la carte offers and include subscriptions to popular streaming sites within their own service bundles.
Regardless of ancient origins in the pay TV world, or new origins in the world of digital streaming, content providers will face common challenges—maintaining subscriber growth and rising content costs—and these challenges will be further exacerbated by the very nature of the competition.
Winning the battle
To stay in the fight, streaming providers must continue to focus on technological innovations. However, to win the war, they must give the greatest focus to the one point of potential differentiation—customer experience. Ultimately, the experience of consuming content is more important than the technology that delivers it. How consumers feel about that experience is what forms the core of the value proposition. While the content itself is a chief component in a customer’s experience, often taken for granted is the connectivity that delivers this awesome content (hint: that’s where we fit in the experience).
Which content providers will be successful in the technology and subscription models that create an experience that compels customers to want more content, and—specifically—to want that content from them? Time will tell.
Game of Thrones may be able to spawn a successful “prequel” series, but content providers can only move forward in time. Winter is coming—who will live to see the spring?
1 Mike Snider, “Avoiding the cold? You may as well binge. Streaming video is only going to grow in 2019,” USAToday.com (3 Jan. 2019).
2 “10 Charts That Will Change Your Perspective Of NetFlix’s Massive Success In The Cloud,” Forbes.com citing “Statista Global Consumer Survey 2018.”
Key takeaway: To stay competitive, streaming providers must focus on technological innovations while remembering the crucial differentiation—customer experience.
Summary: While streaming services are relatively inexpensive, how many is too many to have?
Do you remember the first movie you ever streamed? Honestly, I don’t. Nor do I remember the provider from which I streamed it, or the device that I watched it on. It’s surprising to me that what was such a memorable event at the time, is completely gone from my memory.
While streaming video content is becoming an everyday occurrence for many, it seems the ever-growing market of streaming providers has no bounds. Consumers are moving on from conventional programming bundles, creating opportunities for streaming providers to gain market share.
Is competition creating too many choices?
With so much future revenue at stake, competition is certainly on the rise. Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Hulu all hold exceptional content, but many of the most popular shows and movies are only available on one specific service. New services are on the way too, such as Disney’s upcoming Disney+ launching in November. Many would agree the streaming space has already become crowded with plenty of well‑established brands and enough disruptors to choose from.
Competition is also increasing for traditional TV providers who are finally motivated to break up programming bundles into more tailored packages. The savviest TV providers are now including subscriptions to popular streaming sites within their own service bundles.
Subscriber fatigue
So, how many streaming providers are too many to have?
I remember thinking just a few years ago “do I really need 168 channels?” And now, I have thousands of options within just one streaming subscription. Yet to keep everyone happy, families often find that multiple streaming subscriptions is the way to go. In 2018, 43 percent of U.S. households had more than one streaming video service, up from 20 percent in 2015.
Entertainment: at what price?
When streaming services are relatively inexpensive, consumers seem less concerned about subscribing to more than one. At what point does this begin to change? When will consumers stop seeing it as a good value to have multiple subscriptions? With the expectation that some content will only be viewable via certain video services, (which will soon be the case with Disney’s content) consumers may be forced to add additional services or live with fewer viewing options.
I do find it amazing that a hot dog at a Walt Disney World resort costs $14.99 plus tax, but Disney+ which provides full access to Disney’s complete catalog of content, 24-hours a day, only cost $6.99 per month. I’m not sure if this makes the service a good deal, or the hot dogs a rip off.
The quest for your attention
All these streaming providers are vying for one thing: your attention. So how much attention is out there for them to gain? As the cost of content continues to rise and consumers demand new video and audio technologies, a provider’s subscriber count is more important than ever. Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos provide significantly enhanced customer experiences, but they also require more resources such as processing power and bandwidth to deliver the video. This is where providers like Windstream Wholesale fit into the streaming experience by providing ultra-high capacity connections to the internet and the content provider’s internal networks.
So which streaming providers do you think will be most successful in the coming years? Only time will tell. And while we, as subscribers can go back in time and watch The Matrix from 1999 (which was likely the movie I chose as a true test for my first streaming experience), our favorite streaming providers can only move forward in time.
[1] Mike Snider, “Avoiding the cold? You may as well binge. Streaming video is only going to grow in 2019,” USAToday.com (3 Jan. 2019).
Key takeaway: Soon, ultra-high capacity connections to the internet and the content provider’s internal networks will be imperative to streaming.
APRIL 18, 2022
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Windstream Wholesale, a leading provider of advanced optical solutions, announced today that it has successfully tested the interoperability of QSFP-DD form factor ZR+ pluggable modules from II-VI Incorporated (NASDAQ: II-VI) and Acacia, now part of Cisco. The tests established 400 Gigabit links in a production environment over a 1,027-kilometer link. The team also leveraged the Marvell® Deneb™ Coherent DSP within a native 0 dBm II-VI pluggable and the Acacia module using the Greylock DSP. Industry standard oFEC algorithms were also used in the trials.
“These successful trials demonstrate that Windstream Wholesale remains the optical technology leader in making 400G wavelengths the default deployment for large wholesale and hyperscale customers,” said Buddy Bayer, president of Enterprise and Wholesale at Windstream. “Interoperability is key to simplifying high-performance networks in a cost and energy-efficient manner, and no other service provider has done more than Windstream toward making it a reality in the marketplace. This significant achievement validates Windstream’s strategy of open, disaggregated optical networking.”
Windstream also announced it has become the first service provider member of the OpenZR+ MSA. “We see the OpenZR+ community as well-positioned to make progress around standardization and interoperability in the high-performance transceiver arena,” said Art Nichols, vice president of network architecture and technology at Windstream. “Our goal is not simply to take advantage of our interop and optimization learnings internally, but to also contribute to the industry as a whole in driving open networking forward.”
“We would like to thank Windstream for their industry leadership in driving the technology and hosting the multivendor interoperability trials,” said Matthias Berger, vice president, coherent technology, II-VI Incorporated. “The success of these trials validates the level of maturity of the 400G ZR+ ecosystem which is essential to enable open systems and network architectures such as IP-over-DWDM.”
“As one of the founding members of the OpenZR+ MSA, we are excited to see the industry embracing interoperability and moving towards open networking architectures,” said Tom Williams, senior director of marketing for Acacia, now part of Cisco, and co-chair of the OpenZR+ MSA. “Interoperability and the introduction of new modules, such as our recently announced Bright 400ZR+ QSFP-DD pluggable, will be key to accelerating the adoption of router-based optics in transport networks.”
“We are truly excited to see the first successful validation of multi-vendor DSP interoperability for 400G OpenZR+,” said Samuel Liu, senior director of product marketing, Marvell. “The Marvell Deneb Coherent DSP has enabled a large open ecosystem of suppliers to drive rapid adoption of OpenZR+ in carrier and cloud networks.”
Windstream’s Intelligent Converged Optical Network provides open and disaggregated networking infrastructure, enabling wholesale and enterprise technology customers to select unique custom routes, maintain operational insights with Windstream’s Network Intelligence functions, and place their networks closer to the edge to better serve end-users.
About Windstream
Windstream Holdings is a privately held Fortune® 1000 communications and software company. Windstream Wholesale is an innovative optical technology leader that creates deep partnerships with carriers, content and media providers, and federal government agencies to deliver fast and flexible, customized wave and transport solutions. Additional information is available at windstream.com or windstreamwholesale.com. Follow us on Twitter at @Windstream.
From Fortune. ©2021 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune 1000 are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune is not affiliated with, and does not endorse products or services of, Windstream.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220415005156/en/
Windstream
Scott Morris, 501-748-5342
[email protected]
Source: Windstream Holdings
APRIL 13, 2022
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Windstream Wholesale, a leading provider of advanced optical solutions, today announced a new brand identity to capitalize on its “fast and flexible” approach to technology leadership and service delivery.
“Windstream Wholesale is leading the industry in so many ways that it’s time our brand fully incorporate our commitment to challenging the status quo and relentlessly pursuing excellence in the service of our customers,” said Buddy Bayer, president of Windstream Enterprise and Wholesale. “Whether it’s delivering Terabits of long-haul wave capacity to a customer in less than five business days, taking the lead in ultra-fast optical transmission, or rapidly expanding our connections to in-demand data centers, Windstream Wholesale has positioned itself to capitalize on the market’s burgeoning demand for bandwidth and cloud services for years to come.”
Windstream Wholesale was named Best North American Wholesale Carrier in October as part of Capacity Media’s Global Carrier Awards, the most prestigious awards program in wholesale telecoms.
The company’s pillars of success include:
“Our flexibility and customer-tailored routes coupled with our unique domestic network density in Tiers 1, 2 and 3 cities have made us the ‘go-to’ provider for international carriers, content providers, fiber operators and others needing domestic diversity and redundancy,” said Joe Scattareggia, executive vice president of Wholesale Sales at Windstream. “We are committed to being the best-possible partner for our customers and excited to expand partnerships within the Fortune 1000 verticals through our new Global Accounts and Federal Government divisions, and that expanded focus is fueling our growth.”
The new Windstream Wholesale logo symbolizes fluidity in motion. (Graphic: Business Wire)
The new brand identity now features a graphical element logo that symbolizes fluidity in motion.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220411005868/en/
About Windstream
Windstream Holdings is a privately held Fortune® 1000 communications and software company. Windstream Wholesale is an innovative optical technology leader that creates deep partnerships with carriers, content and media providers, and federal government agencies to deliver fast and flexible, customized wave and transport solutions. Additional information is available at windstream.com or windstreamwholesale.com. Follow us on Twitter at @Windstream.
From Fortune. ©2021 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune 1000 are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune is not affiliated with, and does not endorse products or services of, Windstream.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220411005868/en/
Scott Morris, 501-748-5342
[email protected]
Source: Windstream Holdings
MARCH 30, 2022
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Windstream President and CEO Tony Thomas today announced that Buddy Bayer has been named to lead a newly combined Enterprise and Wholesale organization, effective immediately. Bayer, who joined the company in 2014, has been serving as chief network officer and president of Windstream Wholesale.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220329005985/en/
Buddy Bayer, president of Windstream Enterprise and Wholesale (Photo: Business Wire)
In his new role as president of the Enterprise and Wholesale Business Unit, Bayer will be responsible for sales and marketing, service delivery, customer care, service assurance, and access as well as the Channel Program for the Enterprise business unit. Bayer will continue to oversee Windstream Wholesale sales and operations as well as network engineering and field operations in markets where Windstream is a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC).
“Buddy is an accomplished leader with whom I have worked closely for many years,” Thomas said. “He has a deep understanding of our network, products and people. Under his leadership, the Windstream Wholesale team has achieved record sales and driven significant improvements in technology and operations. Buddy will bring that same focus and energy to Windstream Enterprise.”
“I’m excited for this opportunity to lead an outstanding team of professionals who are unrivaled in the industry,” Bayer said. “Across both the Enterprise and Wholesale organizations, we remain focused on delivering leading-edge products and services that meet the evolving needs of our customers as the market accelerates its digital transformation.”
Bayer came to Windstream from CenturyLink (now Lumen), where he was director of transport planning and engineering. He had previously held a variety of management and engineering positions with OnFiber Communications and MCIWorldCom. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University.
Bayer succeeds Layne Levine as president of Windstream Enterprise. Levine joined the company in 2017.
“I want to thank Layne for his leadership over the past five years,” Thomas said. “During his tenure, Windstream Enterprise saw dramatic growth in our strategic product sets, including SD-WAN and OfficeSuite UC®, and enhanced our sales and marketing operations. I wish Layne all the best in his future endeavors.”
About Windstream
Windstream Holdings is a privately held Fortune® 1000 communications and software company. Windstream offers managed communications services, including SD-WAN and UCaaS, and high-capacity bandwidth and transport services to businesses across the U.S. The company also provides premium broadband, entertainment and security services through an enhanced fiber network to consumers and small and midsize businesses primarily in rural areas in 18 states. Additional information is available at windstream.com or windstreamenterprise.com. Follow us on Twitter at @Windstream.
From Fortune. ©2021 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune 1000 are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune is not affiliated with, and does not endorse products or services of, Windstream.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220329005985/en/
Scott Morris, 501-748-5342
[email protected]
Source: Windstream Holdings
MARCH 14, 2022
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Windstream Wholesale, a leading provider of fast and flexible solutions, announced today that it will connect its Intelligent Converged Optical Network (ICON) to the EdgeConneX data center in Eden Prairie, Min. The data center, located 13 miles from Minneapolis, is the latest addition to Windstream’s growing EdgeConneX portfolio.
Windstream Wholesale is now taking orders at the 6875 Shady Oak Rd. location in Eden Prairie for Wave Services, Ethernet Solutions, and Dedicated Internet Access of all speeds.
“We are excited to provide customers with diverse, high-speed connectivity to the Minneapolis area,” said Joe Scattareggia, executive vice president of Windstream Wholesale. “This is a hot market for international, cable, and cloud customers as well as for other carriers, and Windstream Wholesale is perfectly positioned to serve them through our strong relationship with EdgeConneX.”
“By partnering with Windstream in Minneapolis, a flagship market for EdgeConneX, we can offer increased capacity options and additional ways for our customers to advance their digital transformation and business objectives,” said Phillip Marangella, chief marketing and product officer for EdgeConneX. “Windstream is yet another option for local and regional enterprises to connect locally to our robust cloud ecosystem within our Minneapolis campus, including direct private access to several of the world’s leading cloud providers. We are thrilled to welcome Windstream Wholesale into the mix.”
Windstream Wholesale also has a presence in these EdgeConneX data centers:
Windstream’s Intelligent Converged Optical Network (ICON) provides open and disaggregated networking infrastructure, enabling wholesale and enterprise technology customers to select unique custom routes, maintain operational insights with Windstream’s Network Intelligence functions, and place their networks closer to the edge to better serve end-users.
About Windstream
Windstream Holdings is a privately held Fortune® 1000 communications and software company. Windstream Wholesale is an innovative optical technology leader that creates deep partnerships with carriers, content and media providers, and federal government agencies to deliver fast and flexible, customized wave and transport solutions. Additional information is available at windstream.com or windstreamwholesale.com. Follow us on Twitter at @Windstream.
From Fortune. ©2021 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune 1000 are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune is not affiliated with, and does not endorse products or services of, Windstream.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005447/en/
Scott Morris, 501-748-5342
[email protected]
Source: Windstream Holdings