Big Windstream Deal, UCaaS Market Leaders Top This Week’s Stories

Two key events this week were an update on a major master agent’s expansion and a huge win for Windstream.

We’ve assembled the most interesting articles on our website from the last seven days. Check out the six mini-stories below before you start your weekend.

6. AT&T Maintains Lead in Latest Global Ethernet Rankings

Vertical Systems Group (VSG) rolled out its latest Global Provider Ethernet Leaderboard, and the winner remains the same.

AT&T has been leading the rankings since 2018. Orange Business Services, which was the leader from 2009 to 2017, now sits in fourth.

A VSG executive said coronavirus could change the order of the providers by impacting “supply chains and service rollouts.”

Edward Gately has the scoop.

5. CenturyLink to Pay Another $11 Million for ‘Unfair’ Advertising, Billing

The Arizona Attorney General’s office nailed CenturyLink for allegedly failing to provide discounts that it promised to consumers.

The settlement joins rulings about CenturyLink’s billing practices in Minnesota and Oregon. The undelivered “closer discounts” in Arizona amounted to $1.9 million, according to regulators.

Read about the settlement..

4. RingCentral, 8×8, LogMeIn Named Among Major Players in Exploding UCaaS Market

The global unified-communications-as-a-service market will hit about $25 billion by 2024, according to a new study.

MarketsandMarkets introduced new numbers about the UCaaS industry this week. While Asia Pacific is set to grow faster than any other market over the next four years, North America will be the largest market, according to the researcer.

Learn more from the study.

3. Windstream Scores Big in Uniti Settlement, Sells Creditors on Restructuring Plan

Windstream was facing a $650 million payment to rent Uniti Group’s network; the situation has flipped to Uniti Group paying Windstream.

A key statistic here is $1.75 billion, which Uniti will invest to improve for Windstream ILEC and CLEC properties over the next 10 years. This settlement came after a drawn-out public disagreement between the two parties about re-characterizing the network deal. They announced a deal the day before they would have gone to court.

“We look forward to a strong working relationship with Windstream as we focus on enhancing Windstream’s competitive position and the network Windstream leases from Uniti,” Uniti’s President and CEO said.

Get details on the ruling.

2. Image Gallery: Avant Hosts Grand Opening of ‘HQ-2’ in Dallas

Avant Communications hosted a swanky event to celebrate its new location in Texas.

Ian Kieninger and Rick Reed were among the master agent’s executives that attended the event, alongside about 300 key partners. The Dallas headquarters will features a BattleLab, where partners can conduct technology training and demos.

Scroll through the gallery.

1. Channel People on the Move: Fusion Connect, Intelisys, TPx

The new Intelisys president and other master agent appointments led our latest roundup of channel personnel news.

Craig Galbraith every month assembles a list of hirings and promotions at some of the industry’s most influential vendors and distributors. It’s an opportunity for many of our readers to catch up on where their peers and former colleagues are currently working.

Check out Galbraith’s latest project.