Southern Telecom, Inc. (STI), a subsidiary of Southern Company, announces a new development in its substantial conduit system in downtown Atlanta for a major telecom carrier hotel.  To support its high fiber density deployment in Atlanta metro, the customer has leased a new 1,728 fiber count cable. The new, larger fiber optic cable amounts to 12 times the fiber count of typical network cables with a similar diameter, allowing for a higher fiber count within a smaller footprint.

The ongoing project, which commenced in 2018 when the telecom carrier hotel was seeking to expand into an additional nearby building, takes advantage of STI’s unique and secure infrastructure that utilizes cast iron pipes beneath the streets of Atlanta. Currently used for both STI’s fiber build and the conduit, this infrastructure comprises 12 route miles throughout the city’s business district and utilizes former steam ducts.

“We’re excited about the progress of this project and further supporting the customer’s critical fiber deployment here in Atlanta, as it continues to leverage STI’s conduit system that utilizes a unique and extensive HDPE conduit within the cast iron pipe system,” comments Barry Navarre, Business Development Manager for STI. “The diversity and security that STI’s infrastructure provides is very valuable to the l customer and proves to be a turnkey and cost-effective solution for its expansion plans. Additionally, the lease of this new, larger fiber count cable offers greater capacity and better ROI.”

STI’s unique conduit system within the steam pipes creates an additional level of security for STI customers, due to the added layer of protection around the dark fiber and conduits, versus being buried.