ATLANTA, December 11, 2019 – Southern Telecom, Inc. (STI), a subsidiary of Southern Company, announces that a major southern state university has selected STI for a significant network expansion project. This new network expansion opportunity is a direct result of the positive working relationship that STI has shared with the university for over 20 years and demonstrates STI’s ability to scale with its clients.  The expansion project leverages STI’s conduit network located within a legacy steam system, which provides a greater level of protection for the university’s fiber backbone. STI’s steam system conduit allows the university to expand rapidly without any connectivity limitations.

“STI is committed to its entrepreneurial business model and forward thinking.  Leveraging our steam system conduit, which is 10 to 15 feet below ground level, adds a deeper level of security and protection beyond the design of traditional fiber networks,” explains Michael Lamar, Carrier Account Executive for STI. “We are excited to continue our partnership with the university, a most valued customer of STI since its inception, and embark on this exciting network expansion project.”

STI first created the university's Southern Fiber Optic Ring several years ago. As the university's student population and need for additional buildings on campus increased, thus came the need for a fiber network expansion. The location of the university’s Atlanta campus and future campus expansions are situated directly along and around STI’s steam system, which help to make the expansion a seamless one.

STI markets or owns more than 2,600 route miles in the southeast, which is anchored by its robust conduit and dark fiber metro network in Atlanta.

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

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.