Uniti and Windstream Merger

Cathy De La Garza
Friday, August 1, 2025 | 4:05 PM

Looking Ahead: What the Unit and Windstream Merger Means for a Stronger Uniti

We’ve all seen that dramatic movie scene – warning lights flashing, alarms blaring, the aircraft plummeting toward certain doom. Then, at the last possible second, our hero pilot pulls off an impossible maneuver and saves the day.

Great entertainment, terrible reality.

What those movies never show are the countless hours of preparation, training, and attention to detail that actually make survival possible.

During my time as a combat pilot, I discovered that conventional wisdom has it backwards. Everyone says, “don’t sweat the small stuff,” but mission success depends on the details. Miss one small thing, and there will be consequences, sometimes dire ones.

We’ve taken the “sweat every small thing” approach to our merger with Windstream. While too many other telcos rush through integrations to meet arbitrary deadlines, we’ve spent months obsessing over every detail. Why? Because in our business, the “small stuff” is the difference between seamless service and costly disruption for our customers.

Addressing the Reality

Let’s be honest. When companies announce mergers, customers naturally feel cautious, and rightfully so. I understand that concern because my background is in operations, not sales, so I can speak from a customer perspective.

I’ve gotten those announcements filled with marketing spin only to be underwhelmed or even disappointed by the reality. “Bigger” meant less personal attention and growth at the expense of quality services and the relationships that mattered most.

That’s why I’ve worked hard with my colleagues to make this transition better. It comes down to three key factors:

• This was not a rushed merger. We’ve spent an inordinate amount of time on integration planning – far more than typical industry timelines – because we knew the stakes. While other companies might announce a deal and scramble to figure out the details later, we’ve been methodically working through every aspect of bringing these organizations together.
• Our shared values made integration easier. We’re not trying to force together two incompatible cultures. Both companies built their reputations on the same core principle: passionate commitment to customer service and experience. When your fundamental values align, integration becomes about enhancement rather than efficiency or radical change.
• This is a true 1+1=3 situation. The combination creates capabilities neither company could achieve alone, while preserving the personal touch that existing customers value. It’s not about corporate efficiency at the expense of service quality – it’s about having more resources to deliver even better service.

The extensive preparation we’ve done – and continue to do – makes all the difference. We’ve been game planning for months, working through integration details, aligning systems, and coordinating teams. We’ve sweated the small stuff so customers don’t have to.

What Hasn’t Changed

Trust and service. Those two pillars both Uniti and Windstream customers have come to count on remain solid. The fact that we’re merging shouldn’t disrupt how you do business or affect your success. That’s why we’ve taken this methodical approach.

Our commitment to personalized service from the initial sales conversation through project management to trouble resolution doesn’t change whether you’re a single location business or a multi-site enterprise. You’ll still get tailored solutions designed specifically for your needs, not cookie-cutter packages.

In military terms, we’re still “checking six” – making sure we have your back with the mutual support that defines real partnership. That doesn’t disappear because we’re getting bigger. If anything, it gets stronger.

What Gets Better

While our foundation stays the same, our capabilities expand significantly. The combined entity brings broader network coverage, giving you more routes, more redundancy, and more service options.

We’ll have deeper bench strength, which means we’re better positioned to support your growth from day one. Whether you need to connect one location or build a complex nationwide network, we’ll have more resources and expertise available to make it happen. You get faster project delivery and more reliable ongoing support when your business needs it most.

You’ll also see enhanced options in our product catalog. Rather than completely new services, think of it as better capabilities within what we already offer. More feature choices, more competitive pricing through increased buying power, and more people available to install and monitor your solutions. The result is more flexibility to tailor solutions that fit your specific requirements and budget.

Our investment capacity grows as well. The collective ability to build and upgrade infrastructure allows us to respond more quickly to market demands and continue improving the network that supports your business.

Our Preparation Process

This isn’t a typical “announce and figure it out later” merger. We’ve been doing the detailed work for many months since the merger announcement last year. Systems alignment and process optimization started early, not as an afterthought.

We’ve coordinated teams and provided training to ensure seamless execution when the integration becomes official. We’ve proactively identified potential issues and worked through solutions before they impact customers.

It’s like preparing for any complex operation – evaluating every detail mentally, visualizing potential challenges, and working through solutions so nothing becomes a surprise when you’re actually executing. This thorough preparation means we’ve worked through a long list of scenarios to make sure we’re ready to get ahead of potential challenges when it matters most.

In the end superior execution comes down to preparation. Simple tasks performed repeatedly to the best of your ability without fail – that’s what moves the needle. Not giant leaps or Hail Mary passes, but consistent, intentional work on the details that matter.

The Bigger Picture

I’m most excited about what this merger does for our customers. For too long, businesses have been stuck with an unfair choice: accept the impersonal service of massive tier 1 carriers or settle for smaller providers that lack the resources for complex projects. The combined entity changes that equation.

Now customers get the best of both worlds: the size and investment capital to compete with global providers, paired with the local focus and personal attention IT leaders and business owners have come to expect. We can finally offer companies the partner they’ve always wanted: one with tier 1 strength but genuine commitment to their success.

This means we can take on larger, more complex deployments that require broader geographic reach and deeper technical resources—projects we simply couldn’t handle individually. At the same time, we maintain the flexibility to serve smaller businesses that need reliable connectivity without enterprise complexity. Whether you’re expanding regionally or nationwide, we can scale with your ambitions while keeping that personal touch that sets us apart.

This strategic positioning sets us up for long-term growth and innovation. We’re not just thinking about today’s requirements but preparing for whatever challenges and opportunities come next.

Moving Forward Together

When you do the small things consistently and with intention, you’re ready when the big moments arrive. We’ve done the work, so we’re prepared for the needs of businesses in our service areas.

The combination of expanded capacity, broader reach, and unwavering commitment to personalized service creates opportunities that simply didn’t exist before. Whether you’re currently working with either company or evaluating providers for the first time, you now have access to enterprise-scale capabilities delivered with the attention and responsiveness of a true partner.

The merger creates a stronger Uniti, but it doesn’t change who we are at our core. We’re still the provider that treats you like a partner, not a number. We’re still committed to that level of personalization that makes the difference between a vendor and a true infrastructure partner.

That’s the opportunity we’re creating together – enhanced capabilities built on the foundation of genuine partnership. It’s not about getting bigger for the sake of size. It’s about being better positioned to serve you, whatever your connectivity and IT needs look like today and tomorrow.