Windstream is reporting an expansion of its long-haul express fiber transport network throughout the western United States using Infinera’s DTN-X platform. In the first phase of the project, scheduled to be complete by the end of this year, Windstream says it will add four major markets to its 100 G long-haul network including Salt Lake City, Reno, Las Vegas and the Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bay Area.  

Phase 2 is projected for completion by the end of 2017 reportedly adds 100 G routes extending from the Bay Area to Los Angeles as well as L.A. to Phoenix and Phoenix to El Paso. In total, the new routes will add approximately 4,800 route miles to Windstream’s fiber network, which currently spans more than 125,000 miles and is the sixth largest in the nation, according to the company. The network expansion will offer wholesale and enterprise customers access to more than 1,200 10 G points of presence (PoPs) in 800 cities and more than 400 100G PoPs in many premier carrier hotels and data centers across the U.S.

“Infinera Intelligent Transport Networks enable Windstream to provide its customers an industry leading long-haul network based on the DTN-X Family with seamless integration of FlexILS line system and Xceed Software Suite,” Bob Jandro, Infinera SVP of sales, says. “The Infinera solutions are built on innovation and enable Windstream to provide higher network efficiencies with reduced operational costs, delivering its customers flexible, on-demand connectivity.”

In other Windstream news, the service provider also reported it is upgrading its network in north Georgia to offer internet speeds of 100 Mbps. It’s said to be already underway and will reportedly allow more than 67,000 households the area to access the speeds.