By Michelle Amodio, TMCnet Contributor

NBS (News - Alert) is expanding its MPLS network by partnering up with Windstream, a technology and communications provider, in an effort to expand the delivery of value added services to customers.

The Network-to-Network Interface (NNI) with Windstream's (News - Alert) advanced MPLS IP network will meet the business needs of NBS’ customers and, with the new NNI for Ethernet and T1 connectivity, they will be able to provide faster and more secure solutions in support of its customers’ MPLS-based data and voice communication needs.

MPLS is a highly scalable, protocol agnostic, data-carrying mechanism. In an MPLS network, data packets are assigned labels. Packet-forwarding decisions are made solely on the contents of this label, without the need to examine the packet itself. This allows one to create end-to-end circuits across any type of transport medium, using any protocol.

More and more providers are migrating to MPLS as it can lower operational costs by integrating multiple services onto a common backbone. It has integrated capabilities which enable service providers to offer strict SLAs and thereby increase revenue and margin.

"We have worked with Windstream for quite some time and have been impressed with not only their network reach, but also their professionalism and dedication to their customers,” said NBS President Russell P. Markman in a press release. “This new network integration at 56 Marietta Street is a natural extension of our network expansion into the Southeast," he later added.

“We are greatly complimented by NBS' decision to entrust their end users' network needs with Windstream,” stated Trey Allen, Director of Carrier Sales for Windstream. “We look forward to growing our relationship with NBS in an ever accelerating fashion," Allen commented.