OREANDA-NEWS. Windstream (NASDAQ:WIN), a leading provider of advanced network communications, announced today it is upgrading its cable TV network in North Georgia to provide communities with Internet speeds of 100 megabits-per-second (Mbps).

The upgrade effort, which is already underway, will allow more than 67,000 households in communities across eight North Georgia counties to access 100 Mbps. The counties and associated communities include:

•    Towns - Hiawassee and Young Harris;
•    Union – Blairsville;
•    Dawson – Dawsonville;
•    Lumpkin – Dahlonega;
•    White - Cleveland and Helen;
•    Habersham - Clarkesville, Demorest, Cornelia, Mt. Airy, Baldwin and Alto;
•    Banks - Baldwin, Alto and Homer; and
•    Jackson - Commerce, Jefferson, Nicholson and Arcade.

“We are listening closely to the communities we serve in North Georgia and making significant changes to give our customers the experience they deserve,” said Jarrod (“J”) Berkshire, president of operations for Windstream in Georgia. “We’re committed to expanding access to fast, reliable Internet speeds throughout North Georgia, and will continue to make improvements that allow us to do so.”

With 100Mbps, North Georgia residents in these communities will be able to:

•    Download a 1 GB HD video in as little as 1 minute, 25 seconds
•    Download a High-Quality Full Length Album in as little as 4 seconds
•    Download 100 Hi-Res Photos in as little as 16 seconds
•    Play games online with less lag
•    Enjoy almost seamless video chatting

In addition to the 100 Mbps speed upgrades that will be completed by mid-2017, Windstream is also expanding fiber-to-the-home in select areas.