Windstream Wholesale, Bluewater Regional Networks collaborate on fiber route from Toronto to Chicago
Windstream Wholesale and Canadian network operator Bluewater Regional Networks say they have collaborated on a new fiber network route between Toronto and Chicago. The fiber network will support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), 100GbE, and 400GbE wavelength services from Toronto to Sarnia, Ontario, and then on to Lapeer, MI, and Chicago.
The route offers multiple access points throughout Ontario, Quebec, and Michigan, and provides route diversity to anywhere in the U.S., the companies say. The new link becomes part of Windstream’s ICON open and disaggregated networking infrastructure.
Bluewater Regional Networks is headquartered in Sarnia and operates a community-owned network designed to address the local digital divide throughout Southwestern Ontario as well as enhance connectivity between Canada and the U.S. for multinational customers.
“We are proud to partner with Windstream Wholesale to make this diverse, high-capacity network route a reality,” said Chris Gould, chief operating officer for Bluewater Regional Networks. “Now companies around the world can connect from anywhere in Canada to anywhere in North America and beyond while avoiding some of the most heavily trafficked routes on the continent.”
“Joining forces with exceptional partners like Bluewater Regional Networks is a key part of Windstream Wholesale’s strategy to meet our customers’ increasing demand for high-capacity bandwidth and geographic network diversity that protects against service disruptions,” added Joe Scattareggia, chief revenue officer for Windstream Wholesale. “This unique network route from Toronto to Chicago is a perfect answer for the growing number of large-scale customers looking to connect data centers in the U.S. and Canada.”
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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