Windstream Wholesale and the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC) have signed a network transport agreement that gives NCTC's members preferred pricing and terms for Windstream's transport connections.
Under the terms of the three-year deal, which was effective May 15, NCTC's more than 750 broadband and pay-TV members will be able to obtain "competitively" priced point-to-point wave services for their network build outs, facilities upgrades or service area expansions from Windstream.
"Since launching our Broadband Solutions program in late 2019, the NCTC has saved its membership approximately a million dollars," said Jared Baumann, NCTC's vice president of broadband solutions, in a statement. "We continue to work on developing relationships with additional network providers that are willing to offer our member operators competitive rates and terms on IP transit and transport services. This valuable partnership with Windstream gives our members highly competitive rates to internet exchanges allowing even more member companies to benefit from our current IP transit deals."
Windstream and Zayo are currently NCTC's transport partners, but it's exploring other partnerships as well, according to an NCTC spokesperson. In December, NCTC, which was founded in 1984, announced it was offering members IP transit services from both Zayo and Cogent Communications.
RELATED: Windstream Holdings targets late August for end of Chapter 11 bankruptcy
In its first quarter earnings call in May, Windstream's wholesale service revenues were $85 million compared to $93 million in the same period a year ago.
Windstream is targeting late August to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which was filed early last year, once it gains regulatory approvals. The court the will hold a confirmation hearing on Windstream's reorganization plan on Wednesday.