Kinetic by Windstream celebrates ribbon cutting at Coldstream Research Campus
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 6, 2023) — On Wednesday, June 29, Kinetic by Windstream hosted a momentous ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new regional headquarters at the University of Kentucky's Coldstream Research Campus. Esteemed leaders, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, gathered to commemorate this important occasion.
Kinetic by Windstream is renowned as the largest eight-gigabit internet provider in the United States, offering premium broadband, entertainment and security services through an enhanced fiber network. Its primary focus is serving consumers and businesses in rural areas across 18 states. Moreover, the company provides managed communications services like SD-WAN and UCaaS, as well as high-capacity bandwidth and transport services to businesses nationwide.
Distinguished individuals who spoke at the ceremony included Gov. Andy Beshear, Mayor Linda Gorton, Windstream President and CEO Tony Thomas, Windstream SVP Field Operations Barry Bishop, UK AVP Economic Development and Real Estate George Ward, and Andy Haymaker from the Haymaker Company. Each speaker emphasized the significance of Kinetic by Windstream choosing Kentucky as the location for its regional headquarters.
"We are thrilled to welcome Kinetic by Windstream as they establish their regional headquarters at the Coldstream Research Campus,” Ward said. “This partnership helps to solidify Coldstream as a hub of innovation and technological advancement.”
Ookla's Speedtest data reveals that eight-gigabit internet service offers remarkable download and upload speeds of up to 8,000 megabits per second. In contrast, the median download speed in Kentucky is approximately 180 megabits per second, with the median upload speed averaging around 23 megabits per second. In Lexington, Ookla's data indicates median download and upload speeds of approximately 203 megabits per second and 33 megabits per second, respectively.
Gov. Beshear expressed his excitement, stating, "That's a tremendous amount of bandwidth. And now this national leader is inaugurating its regional headquarters here at this 735-acre hub of innovation and creativity."
The regional headquarters of Kinetic by Windstream will serve as a center for leadership, best practices, research and employee training, particularly for the company's technical workforce. Technicians will receive training on active network elements, advanced fiber optic systems, and delivering an exceptional customer experience. The building is expected to employ a total of 90 individuals.
Mayor Linda Gorton celebrated the occasion, stating, "This is a great day for Lexington. Kinetic has chosen our dynamic Coldstream Research Campus as its regional headquarters. The company is already a leading provider of ultrafast fiber internet in Lexington, and this brand-new regional headquarters further demonstrates its commitment to our city."
Kinetic by Windstream adds to the growing list of regional, national and global headquarters housed at the Coldstream Research Campus. Notable companies include Tempur Sealy, Open Text, Piramal Pharma Solutions, Middle Ground Capital, and A&W Restaurants, among others.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.