Page 89 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Windstream Lights Up Wholesale Fiber Access, Adds 60K Locations

Windstream announced the addition of 60K wholesale fiber back in June 2020. The company has also extended its reach
locations across its 18 state footprint. The additional wholesale globally. Earlier in 2020, the company landed at a Virginia Beach,
access locations became available during the first quarter of 2021. Va., international subsea cable landing station, and began taking
These new Windstream wholesale fiber locations are available orders out of a new Globalinx Data Center.
in exchanges where Windstream is the incumbent provider.
Windstream wholesale partners can now sell this fiber access
to business customers. “As we continue to drive fiber deeper
into our network, our cost-effective broadband and ethernet
access is now available for our wholesale partners for business
customers,” said Jeff Small, Kinetic President in a press release.
“Through simple provisioning and transparent customer support,
our fiber product fits seamlessly into any portfolio.” Windstream
is currently embarking on a $2 billion program to expand fiber
broadband access. The company also won $523 million in RDOF
funding to expand rural broadband access, of which Windstream
intends to deploy significant FTTH. Windstream reported that it
had fiber available to 590K locations at the end of 2020, reporting
a net gain of 60K in the year. Ultimately Windstream intends to
get gigabit capable FTTH to 50% of its LEC territory within ten
years. Beyond Windstream providing wholesale fiber access, the
wholesale division provides bandwidth and transport services to
content and media providers, cloud and data center operators,
international carriers, cable operators, wireless carriers, and
traditional network service providers. Windstream announced a
network transport agreement for its wholesale unit with the NCTC

Smart Expands 5G Roaming Service to Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

Following the successful launch of its the best experience to our customers,” they visit other countries for work or
partnership with all mobile operators in said Alice Ramos, Vice President for vacation,” added Ramos. Like Smart, Zain
the United Arab Emirates, PLDT wireless International Roaming and Consumer KSA has also been recognized by Ookla,
arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) Business at Smart. Smart 5G roamers in the global leader in internet testing and
partners with Zain, a leading mobile Saudi Arabia can subscribe to GigaRoam analysis, as the telco with the “fastest
voice and data services operator in the Saudi Arabia for P499/30 days, which fixed network speed in the Kingdom.”
Middle East to further expand its 5G includes 1GB data allowance with open The comes after Smart’s partnership with
roaming services in the region. Under this access for web surfing, video streaming, UAE’s Etisalat and du, resulting to a full 5G
partnership, Smart prepaid and postpaid and use of social applications. Meanwhile, roaming coverage in the Emirates; Taiwan’s
customers overseas will be able to access overseas customers in Kuwait and Bahrain FarEasTone; and South Korea’s KT Corp.
worry-free 5G roaming speeds while in can enjoy GigaRoam packs for as low Taiwan and South Korea number among
Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The P999/5 days. With GigaRoam, they can the world’s top three countries for best
Middle East is home to many overseas enjoy value-for-money 5G roaming data 5G experience in a February 2021 report
Filipinos, second to North America. This allocation and validity coupled with 5G by mobile analytics and insights research
makes Smart the first Philippine operator roaming speeds because of Smart’s company Opensignal. This series of 5G
to have the widest roaming coverage in partnership. “Customers with 5G-ready roaming partnerships with the world’s top
the territory. “Smart’s 5G roaming service SIMs and 5G-capable handsets can operators in key markets is testament to
allows a Smart subscriber to enjoy enjoy 5G roaming speeds for better Smart’s commitment to provide world-
worry-free 5G service even while abroad video experience, and seamless data class roaming services to its travelers as
through Smart’s 5G roaming partners. connectivity for the productivity or social travel restrictions are anticipated to relax
This is part of our commitment to deliver platforms that they need to access when with mass vaccinations.

89 FEB-MAR 2021