Metro Bytes: Windstream, Conterra, UPN, Great Plains, McAllen Data Center

Next week is Metro Connect, and I’ll be down in Miami as well.  But first, here’s some metro fiber news from Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, and Arkansas that’s worth a look:

Windstream’s metro expansion moved out to St. Louis this week. The Arkansas-based network operator has been investing in its metro reach across its footprint over the last year or two, hooking up more data centers and commercial buildings to its network. In St. Louis, they are putting in more depth in the city’s Central Business District, Olivette, and Maryland Heights areas. They cite Aegion Corporation as an enterprise customer already taking advantage of the new infrastructure.

Conterra has picked up a significant wireless backhaul contract in El Paso, Texas. A major wireless carrier has selected their infrastructure to support a dark fiber-based C-RAN network. The $10M agreement will see Conterra add another 60 route miles to its network, hooking up more than 50 sites initially.

Unite Private Networks has a new customer in Little Rock, Arkansas. Media Gateway has tapped them for high speed internet connectivitiy in support of its TV distribution business. We hear more about their expansion efforts in Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, and Colorado, but UPN entered Little Rock in part via an E-Rate deal back in 2013 with the Little Rock School District.

Great Plains Communications says it has upgraded its entire 8,000+ mile network.  They’ve deployed 100G-capable gear across their footprint, including three routes across Nebraska itself as well as connections to Cheyenne, Chicago, Des Moine, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Sioux Falls in the surrounding states.

And down on the Mexican border, McAllen Data Center has been working on its network infrastructure. Specifically, they have announced a carrier-neutral international fiber crossing connecting McAllen to the Mexican city of Reynosa on the other side of the Rio Grande, with diverse routes across both the Anzalduas and Hidalgo Bridges. They’ll be offering both IRUs and monthly leases on capacity across the border. I’d make a Trump wall reference, but it’s too easy.

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: Datacenter · Metro fiber · Wireless