Kinetic Business by Windstream business customers in Sugar Land are among the first Houston-area markets with access to expanded internet speeds of up to one gigabit per second as of Jan. 18. More than 3,300 local business customers qualify for the first wave of one gigabit internet expansion, which will eventually encompass 100,000 businesses in 16 states, according to the company. The expansion brings Windstream’s rural footprint to about one-third of businesses, up from 2 percent, the company said in a press release. For small and medium-sized businesses, fiber internet connections provide next-generation network, Voice over IP and advanced security and business continuity plans. “Sugar Land was chosen as one of the first markets for Kinetic Business Fiber Internet because of growing customer demand in the area,” Danny Ferguson, Windstream area president for Texas, said via email. “More and more small and medium-sized businesses in Sugar Land require high-bandwidth internet access to compete in today’s rapidly changing economy, and Windstream is committed to meeting that need.”