Top News: Windstream Channel Chief, Frontier Bankruptcy, Cisco Routing Update

Frontier bankruptcy updates and Cisco‘s routing refresh hit the news this week.

Several well-known companies made personnel, product or regulatory announcements this week. For example, CenturyLink’s rebranded enterprise unit unveiled a new portal. We’ve compiled seven popular stories from our website written in the last week. Check them out before you start your weekend.

7. Viasat Launches Phone Service, Pitches Satellite-VoIP Combo

VoIP and satellite go together like peanut butter and chocolate.

So says Viasat, which announced its Business Voice offering this week. Customers can bundle the cloud-based phone offer with Viasat’s business internet service for $25 per month.

Get details.

6. Lumen Networking, Edge Cloud, Security Available via Self-Service Portal

Lumen Technologies unveiled a self-service online portal for partners.

Networking, edge, cloud and security products are available. Lumen will make the digital buying experience available starting in early 2021.

Edward Gately has the scoop.

5. Cisco Announces Massive Routing Platform Upgrade, SD-WAN Platform

It’s the vendor’s biggest enterprise routing refresh in almost a decade.

Cisco announced the Catalyst 8000 WAN Edge device family, which tailors to data center and branch office deployments. The company also launched a cellular gateway that can provide primary or backup SD-WAN transport.

As a result, partners can deliver a networking experience tailored to a distributed, multicloud world.

Hear from Cisco and a partner.

4. Intelisys, Pax8 Veteran Strikes Out on His Own

Andrew Pryfogle

Andrew Pryfogle, who made a name for himself in his seven years at Intelisys, is forming his own company.

Pryfogle is starting a master customer experience (CX) integrator named CX Effect. Details are forthcoming, but Pryfogle expressed his excitement in a video announcement.

He leaves the cloud distributor Pax8, which wished him well.

“We are grateful to Andrew for his contribution to Pax8 and how he helped us build a growth framework in network and communications,” the company stated. “And we support his move and wish him all the best on his next venture.”

Read more about  Pryfogle.

3. Master Mania: Latest from Intelisys, Avant, TBI, AppSmart, More

It’s a good time to work in the agent channel.

We get that impression from following master agency news in the last quarter. For instance, these companies have been announcing all kinds of investments, including new hires and suppliers.

We assembled a list of the most interesting master agent stories from July to September.

Check out the gallery.

2. Windstream Names Fusion Connect, Birch Alum Channel Chief

A successor has emerged in place of Matt Milliron.

Brad Smith now leads Windstream Enterprise‘s strategic channels following Milliron’s departure to Dobson Technologies. Smith, who joined Windstream earlier this year to work as vice president of indirect sales, spoke about his plans for the company in an interview with Channel Partners.

Read the Q&A.

1. Frontier Communications Expects Chapter 11 Exit in Early 2021

Frontier Communications appears on track for a plan to reduce $10 billion in debt.

A steady stream of states – most recently New York – have agreed to Frontier’s bankruptcy plan. The carrier filed for bankruptcy back in April.

Read about the latest Frontier bankruptcy news.