Contract to Provide Voice, Data, and Internet Services Through Access to Windstream’s National Fiber Network to Department of Veterans Affairs
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 17, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Windstream
(NYSE:WIN, news, filings), a leading provider of advanced network communications,
announced today that it has been awarded a contract to provide voice,
data, and Internet services for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
in its Region 4 area, encompassing 11 states in the northeastern United
States. The contract is for a baseline amount of $12 million but can
extend to as much as $20 million over five years.
Prior to this contact, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
contracted with hundreds of vendors providing local service to
thousands of its facilities throughout the United States. In 2013, the
VA took steps to eliminate the administrative expenses associated with
the number of telecommunications vendors by creating four geographic
regions, each with multiple Veterans Information Service Networks, and
contracting with a single vendor for each region. The VA’s Region 4 was
the first of these consolidated procurement contracts to be awarded.
“As the largest national competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC),
Windstream was ideally positioned with our network footprint and
coverage to deliver both the costs savings anticipated by the
Department of Veterans Affairs, but also with an increase in service
quality,” said Mike Magliato, vice president and general manager of
federal markets at Windstream. “Additionally, our federal government
portal, developed to support federal initiatives such as the VA
contract consolidation, will ensure that the ongoing management and
resources expended by the VA nationwide will significantly decrease. We
believe this is truly a win — for both the federal government as well
as the veterans of our country.”
Region 4 oversees more than 300 VA facilities, including VA hospitals,
clinics, cemeteries, and call centers, among others. Windstream was
selected for this critical contract for several reasons, including:
— The company has a strong history of providing superior voice, data, and
Internet services to the federal government, and as the
telecommunications provider of choice, provides service to nearly every
government agency.
— Windstream provides end-to-end solutions, allowing it to deliver
services without engaging third party vendors.
— Windstream’s technical expertise in network communications technology
and managed services, as well as its custom portal for automated
business transactions, meets the federal government’s requirements.
Windstream expects to have Region 4 products and services fully
implemented by the end of 2013.
The Windstream Corporation logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8314
About Windstream
Windstream (NASDAQ:WIN), a FORTUNE 500 and S&P 500 company, is a
leading provider of advanced network communications, including cloud
computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company
also offers broadband, phone and digital TV services to consumers
primarily in rural areas. For more information, visit
www.windstream.com.
CONTACT: Tanja Jameson
501-748-7236
tanja.jameson@windstream.com
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