| Type | Public (NASDAQ: WIN) S&P 500 Component |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Key people | Jeffery R. Gardner - President & CEO |
| Products | IP-based voice and data services, MPLS networking, Data Center and Managed Hosting Service, Business Communications Systems, Broadband, Digital Phone, and High-Definition TV |
| Revenue | $4 billion |
| Employees | 10,100 |
| Website | www.windstream.com |
Windstream Corporation (NASDAQ: WIN) is a local telephone provider. With headquarters in Little Rock, Ark., Windstream is an S&P 500 communications and technology company with operations in 29 states and the District of Columbia and about $4 billion in annual revenues. Windstream provides IP-based voice and data services, MPLS networking, data center and managed hosting services and communications systems to businesses and government agencies. The company also delivers broadband, digital phone and high-definition TV services to residential customers primarily located in rural areas and operates a local and long-haul fiber network spanning approximately 60,000 route miles.
The company was formed in 2006 when Alltel's local telephone service merged with Valor Communications Group out of part of GTE (now part of Verizon)'s local telephone business in the Southwestern United States.
Recently, Windstream began partnering with Dish Network to offer satellite service to its customers.
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The Green Truck is Windstream’s residential advertising icon, appearing at events and as the “spokestruck” in the company’s commercials. It is also the main channel of communication for Windstream’s annual Green Truck Tour. The Green Truck is a refurbished 1953 vintage green Chevrolet pickup truck. In early 2008, the truck was outfitted with yellow and orange flame decals to represent Windstream’s high-speed Internet service.
Introduced in August 2006, the Green Truck Tour brings the truck to destinations and community events throughout the United States. Local residents can take pictures with it and participate in games and activities.[1] Windstream distributes information on their products and services including a landline phone service, high-speed Internet and digital television.[2] while donating equipment, such as canine vests, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, defibrillators and new fireman’s uniforms to these communities.[3]
Windstream also educates local residents about the safety of landline service and drives home the message that “Your Landline is Your Lifeline.” Windstream’s landline phone service allows 911 dispatchers to pinpoint a person’s location, even when the power goes out.[1] This service is part of the E911 system.
CT Communications On May 29, 2007, the company announced that it would acquire CT Communications for $585 million. The acquisition would result in an addition of approximately 158,000 access lines and 29,000 broadband customers, nearly doubling the company's presence in North Carolina. The sale closed August 31, 2007.[4][5]
D&E Communications On May 11, 2009, the company announced that it would acquire D&E Communications of Ephrata, Pennsylvania for approximately $330 million. The acquisition will result in an addition of approximately 165,000 access lines and 44,000 high speed internet customers. The acquisition will greatly expand the company's presence in Pennsylvania, including significant expansion of its CLEC presence in seven markets in the state, including State College, PA, home of Pennsylvania State University.[6][7] The transaction closed November 10th, 2009.[8]
Iowa Telecom On November 24, 2009 the company announced that it would acquire Iowa Telecom for $1.1 billion. The acquisition would result in an addition 256,000 access lines, about 95,000 high-speed Internet customers and about 26,000 digital TV customers, adding rural Iowa and Minnesota to the company.[9]
NuVox, Inc. On February 8, 2010 the company acquired Nuvox, a company formed from a merger of Gabriel Communications and Trivergent Communications.[10]
Q-Comm Corporation On August 17, 2010 the company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Q-Comm Corporation in a transaction valued at approximately $782 million. This includes Q-Comm’s wholly owned subsidiaries Kentucky Data Link, Inc. (KDL),[11] a fiber services provider in 22 states, and Norlight, Inc.,[12] a CLEC primarily serving the Midwest. Both KDL and Norlight are based in Evansville, IN. Q-Comm subsidiaries Cinergy MetroNet[13] and nGenX[14] will be spun off as independent companies prior to the close of the deal.[15]
Hosted Solutions In November 2010 the company announced that it would acquire Hosted Solutions for $310 million. Hosted Solutions is a North Carolina-based managed hosting, cloud and colocation provider with a footprint of five datacenters in Cary, Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina as well as Boston, Massachusetts.[16]
PAETEC Holding Corp In August 2011, the company announced that it would acquire PAETEC Holding Corp., a Rochester, New York-based telecommunications company. As of December 1st, 2011 this acquisition of Paetec Holding Corp has been completed.
In November 2008, Windstream reduced approximately 200 employees from its workforce, citing the impact of a receding economy. In December 2008, an additional 170 layoffs were announced,[17] primarily from engineering and technical divisions. Windstream has publicly stated that $6 million will help pay for severance benefits for affected employees. In January 2010, just prior to its acquisition Nuvox held their own layoffs and firings.
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