Georgia System Operations Corporation selects Southern Telecom for dark fiber solution

ATLANTA, April 25, 2018 /PR Newswire/-- Southern Telecom, Inc. (STI), a subsidiary of Southern Company, announces Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC) has entered a leasing agreement for dark fiber on STI’s Atlanta central business district fiber ring. GSOC is utilizing the fiber to connect the cooperative’s headquarters office in Tucker, Georgia, to Georgia EMC’s government relations, community and economic development office, located on the Georgia Tech campus in downtown Atlanta.

“Utilizing Southern Telecom’s fiber network has helped GSOC streamline our internal operations between our headquarters office and our affiliate Georgia EMC’s office, including our data management, phone systems and business tools,” says Bilal Sabusa, Director of Technology and Operations for GSOC.

“Additionally, the fiber optic upgrade with STI increases overall reliability and results in long-term cost savings over a leased circuit for GSOC,” notes Mark Bowman, GSOC Telecommunications Engineering Manager.

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.

"There are several benefits for companies that utilize fiber connectivity, including dramatically faster communications as well as increased scalability, control and security,” concludes Barry Navarre, Southern Telecom Business Development Manager. “We are pleased to be selected by GSOC to help them improve the network infrastructure between their two office locations in Metro Atlanta.”

GSOC, along with Georgia Transmission Corporation and Oglethorpe Power Corporation, is a tax-exempt cooperative that provides and delivers wholesale power to 38 of Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives, or EMCs.

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, 21st 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 Worlds Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

STI Media Contact: 
Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA)
1-866-695-3629 ext. 6 
pr@jsa.net 

About Georgia System Operations (GSOC)

Georgia System Operations Corporation is an independent, not-for-profit system operations company owned by our Members: 38 of Georgia’s distribution electric membership corporations (the Member Systems), Oglethorpe Power Corporation and Georgia Transmission Corporation. As the system operator, GSOC ensures reliable, independent system operations by controlling and monitoring electric generation, transmission and distribution assets owned by Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Georgia Transmission Corporation, Smarr EMC, the Member Systems and their power supply partners. The company enables its Members’ participation in the energy market in Georgia and the Southeast by providing a range of operations services that allow our Members to transact, optimize and account for their business in the wholesale energy market. Visit https://www.gasoc.com for more information.