Expansions at Windstream, Alpheus, EarthLink, Lumos, MegaPath

There has been a lot of network expansion news in recent days. Here’s some quick takes on some interesting ones from within the US that I hadn’t managed to get to:

Yesterday Windstream took a big step forward in its integration of all those CLEC assets it has acquired, the largest and most recent of which being PAETEC. They have expanded their Carrier Switched Ethernet services out to more than 300 CLEC markets, including its EoC footprint. Carriers will be able to access the extended Ethernet reach via regional NNIs.

Down in Texas, Alpheus Communications took its Ethernet services down to the boarder yesterday. They’ve invested in an expansion of their Metro Ethernet capabilities beyond their main turf in the Texas Triangle and down into the Rio Grande valley where they have long had a more limited presence. That gives them access both to South Texas and to interconnection points with Mexican providers.

Just this morning, Earthlink (NASDAQ:ELNK, news, filings) unveiled a rare longhaul network expansion project. They’re building out their network between Memphis and Chicago as well as a metro fiber ring on the Memphis end. This represents a key western link between the two CLEC footprints that EarthLink purchased last year: One Communications’ Northeastern and Midwestern fiber and Deltacom’s primarily Southern footprint.  I wonder if they have plans to fill in more of that map.

Lumos Networks (NASDAQ:LMOS, news, filings) is building its way southward to Atlanta. They’re planning to interconnect their fiber network with a key southeastern partner to create a new and redundant path between Ashburn and Atlanta. While they don’t give details, Lumos’s part of the build would probably be their route through the Appalachians down to Kinsport and Johnson City.

And also last week, MegaPath said it has completed its national Ethernet-over-Copper rollout. They now offer the service through 693 central offices nationwide, with the most recent additions being in Las Vegas, Richmond, San Antonio, Hartford, Jacksonville, and Tampa.  I’m curious what their next infrastructure project will be.

If you haven't already, please take our Reader Survey! Just 3 questions to help us better understand who is reading Telecom Ramblings so we can serve you better!

Categories: CLEC · Fiber Networks · Metro fiber