LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Windstream (NASDAQ:WIN), a leading provider of advanced network communications, today announced the launch of its ultra-fast 1-Gigabit Internet service in four market areas.

Starting today 1-Gig Internet service will be available to approximately 35,000 residential and small business customers in Lincoln, Neb.; Lexington, Ky.; Sugar Land, Texas and seven North Carolina communities (China Grove, Concord, Davidson, Harrisburg, Kannapolis, Lewisville and Matthews).

With 1-Gig Internet service, customers can benefit from ultra-fast speeds. For example, users can download 100 songs in three seconds or an HD movie in just seven seconds, which is significantly faster than services currently available in each market area.

Over the last three years, Windstream has made significant investments in infrastructure and network upgrades across all four market areas. These investments have brought customers expanded premium speeds of 50-100 Mbps Internet service, Windstream’s next-generation television service Kinetic in select cities, and now 1-Gig Internet service.

Windstream Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: WIN)