Southern Telecom® expands key metro networks

ATLANTA, Dec. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Telecom®, a subsidiary of Southern Company, today announced a strategic network expansion project in two key Southeast markets – Atlanta, Georgia, and Birmingham, Alabama. Through the dark-fiber network expansion, Southern Telecom is enhancing customer value by delivering increased network reach and new last-mile connectivity options.

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"Southern Telecom's dark-fiber network expansion complements our existing network by providing customers additional diversity and reliability," said Southern Telecom Business Development Manager Barry J. Navarre. "We are better able to serve existing and prospective customers in these two, fast-growing markets." 

The Atlanta expansion adds 43 miles of dark fiber to the existing Southern Telecom network, increasing the total metro Atlanta network to 128 miles. In addition, the Atlanta system has doubled the number of on-net buildings and is now supporting 40.  

In Birmingham, the expansion adds 127 miles of dark fiber and 42 on-net buildings to its metro network, while connecting to the existing carrier neutral and enterprise co-location facility.

"These enhancements also build on critical infrastructure for the smart grid initiatives in the Southern Company service territory by increasing device efficiency and reliability to meet customers' needs," said Navarre.

About Southern Telecom
Southern Telecom is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company that provides long-haul and metropolitan dark fiber connecting Atlanta with other smaller cities throughout the Southeast. The company also provides network elements such as rights of way, dark fiber, conduit, co-location and other related maintenance services. Southern Telecom is certificated as a telecommunications provider in Alabama, Florida and Georgia and also at the federal level. For more information about Southern Telecom, please call (404) 506-5120 or visit www.southern-telecom.com.    

With more than 4.4 million customers and nearly 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for energy innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks and designated a 2013 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company received the Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light & Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

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SOURCE Southern Company

For further information: Southern Company Media Relations, 404-506-5333 or 866-506-5333, www.southerncompany.com