ATLANTA, May 30, 2019 –Southern Telecom, Inc., a subsidiary of Southern Company, announced an agreement with Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) for a new dark fiber route between GTC’s fiber backbone to Central Georgia EMC headquarters in Jackson, Georgia. GTC is jointly owned by 38 of Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives (EMCs), including Central Georgia EMC.

A national leader in electricity transmission excellence, GTC partners with its member EMCs to provide Georgia residents with reliable, affordable energy. GTC is focused on building a fiber optic network for its members to improve communications reliability, increase network bandwidth and control costs. Southern Telecom has previously supported GTC’s initiative by swapping a 75-mile fiber route between Winder and Hartwell, Georgia, with the company’s Atlanta to Jacksonville route.

Earlier this year, Southern Telecom entered into a leasing agreement with Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC), the statewide industry association for Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives, for dark fiber on Southern Telecom’s Atlanta central business district fiber ring to connect GTC’s and GSOC’s headquarters office in Tucker, Georgia, to the midtown Atlanta office of Georgia EMC. Georgia EMC is owned by the 38 EMCs and associated with GTC as well.

“Southern Telecom is a valued partner for us as we work on expanding our fiber network across our EMC membership to improve communications and support operations in the regions our EMCs serve,” commented David Van Winkle, Vice President of Operations and Maintenance for Georgia Transmission Corporation. “This new route complements our existing fiber network and further establishes our connectivity in central Georgia.”

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.

“We are very happy to work with GTC again on expanding its network and helping to empower EMCs with connectivity that rivals the speeds found in major metropolitan markets such as Atlanta,” commented Barry Navarre, Business Development Manager for Southern Telecom.

For more information on Southern Telecom and the dark fiber and colocation services it offers, visit http://www.southern-telecom.com.

Georgia Transmission Corporation and Georgia System Operations Corporation, are not-for-profit cooperatives that deliver wholesale power to 38 of Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives, or EMCs, along high-voltage transmission lines and substations. For more information, visit https://www.gatrans.com/.

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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, and at the Federal level. For more information about Southern Telecom, visit www.southern-telecom.com. 

About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries as of Jan. 1, 2019. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a low-carbon future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Forbes and the Women’s Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.

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