ATLANTA - February 6, 2018 – Southern Telecom, Inc., a subsidiary of Southern Company, is proud to announce that this month marks the company’s 20th anniversary. Celebrating two decades of wholesale dark fiber industry presence and expertise, Southern Telecom offers wireline broadband infrastructure supported by one of the largest investor-owned energy utilities in North America, Southern Company.

Southern Telecom provides wholesale dark fiber and colocation solutions to the telecom and enterprise sectors, connecting Atlanta with strategic markets throughout the southeast US. Southern Telecom markets or owns more than 2,600 route miles in the southeast anchored by a robust conduit and dark fiber metro network throughout Atlanta. Presently, Southern Telecom is constructing with joint build partners more than 500 route miles along several new underground routes around the southeast.  Another 800 route miles of underground dark fiber is under development with joint build partners. The company continues to evaluate existing routes for replacement or upgrades while seeking joint build partners for additional greenfield routes.

“Perhaps the most noteworthy Southern Telecom accomplishment over the last 20 years is that, since inception, each Southern Telecom employee has returned home safely every day, having discharged their job responsibilities in a safe manner. This is quite reflective of the Southern Company safety excellence culture,” noted Tami Barron, Southern Telecom President and CEO. “I am so proud of the way Southern Telecom embodies the Southern Company values of ‘Safety First, Unquestionable Trust, Superior Performance, and Total Commitment.”

Wayne Ellis, Southern Telecom General Manager, added, “Foreseeing the emerging need for wireline fiber optic broadband infrastructure, Southern Company helped to shape the Telecom Act of 1996 in a manner such that Southern Telecom was incorporated shortly thereafter in February 1998. Since then, Southern Telecom and our colleagues in the Southern Company business units and shared services company have developed one of the premier energy utility fiber optic networks. These networks today are the backbone for innovation in the making, delivering, and selling of energy while also serving our growing telecom and enterprise customer base.”

"Southern Telecom is pleased to mark this significant milestone for our company, due in large part to our customers, partners, employees, and our parent company who have, since day one, supported our mission to provide the best in dark fiber and carrier-neutral colocation facilities throughout the southeast,” commented Barry Navarre, Southern Telecom Business Development Manager. “We look forward to the next chapters we are shaping in the future of Southern Telecom as we continue to grow our customer base, form new partnerships, enhance current routes, and develop new opportunities.”

Southern Telecom will celebrate its 20th anniversary throughout 2018 with several commemorative events.  These events will involve employees, communities, suppliers, and customers and reinforce its 20^th anniversary theme of “Celebrating Our Past. Shaping Our Future.”

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About Southern Telecom
Southern Telecom, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company that provides long-haul and metropolitan dark fiber connecting Atlanta with other cities throughout the Southeast. The company also provides network elements such as access to rights of way, conduit, neutral co-location, and other related maintenance services. Southern Telecom is certificated as a telecommunications provider in Alabama, Florida Georgia, Mississippi, and at the Federal level. For more information about Southern Telecom, visit www.southern-telecom.com.  

About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America’s premier energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America’s energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21^st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among the top energy companies in Fortune's annual World’s Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.