Windstream achieves Diamond Partner status with Ciena

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 13, 2017 -- Windstream (NASDAQ:WIN), a leading provider of advanced network communications, today announced that it has achieved Diamond Partner status in Ciena’s BizConnect partner program. Diamond Partner status is the highest level that Ciena offers, and it recognizes Windstream’s commitment to offering its customers the broadest range of technology solutions backed by industry-leading support.

Windstream’s partnership with Ciena^® has played a critical role in bringing cutting-edge network technologies within reach of enterprise customers. Windstream addresses the evolving market needs of on-demand services and the convergence of IT and telecommunications within the channel community. This partnership epitomizes many months of collaboration and development across multiple areas of the business to assist in bringing new innovations to market. As a result, Windstream is leading the industry with the deployment of well-known services with cutting-edge capabilities. The Windstream product portfolio is benefiting from the delivery of automated optical service and will leverage intelligent network capabilities to provide customers with bandwidth on demand and real-time network diagnostics.

“To succeed in today’s on-demand economy, it is critical for network operators to have a solid strategy and set of capabilities in place that can quickly equip customers with the connectivity they require,” said Ricardo Warfield, vice president, Global Partner Organization at Ciena. “This past year, Windstream proved its leadership in this type of service velocity by accelerating the turn-up of new offerings for enterprises across the U.S.”

Ciena previously recognized Windstream as its Service Launch Velocity award winner at last year’s BizConnect Americas Partner Summit. That award recognized Windstream’s strong commitment to its enterprise customers through its fiber and fixed wireless network expansions in more than a dozen markets, including Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia.

“We have a tremendous partnership with Ciena, and what we have accomplished together is truly remarkable,” said Greg Griffiths, vice president strategic marketing at Windstream. “We are honored that Ciena would choose to recognize Windstream as a Diamond Partner, and we look forward to continuing to work together to deliver the best solutions for customers.”

Windstream offers a full suite of advanced network communications and technology solutions like UCaaS, SD-WAN and Diverse Connect along with voice and data services such as VoIP access, SIP trunking, MPLS, Wavelength, Ethernet and dedicated high-speed Internet. Windstream also offers managed services, cloud services, and network security services designed to help businesses increase productivity and improve operational costs. For more information, 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, businesses, enterprise organizations and wholesale customers 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 small business and enterprise clients. The company supplies core transport solutions on a local and long-haul fiber network spanning approximately 147,000 miles. Additional information is available at windstream.com. Please visit our newsroom at news.windstream.com or follow us on Twitter at @Windstream.

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