Southern Light, Allied Fiber ink 20-year fiber agreement to extend network across Southeast

Southern Light and Allied Fiber have signed a 20-year Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) agreement, giving Southern Light another avenue by which to extend its network to a growing customer base across Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Under the terms of the agreement, Southern Light will leverage Allied Fiber's Southeast Network and will use two fiber strands and establish a presence in all five of Allied Fiber's colocation facilities in Georgia.

Southern Light also has the option to purchase additional strands on similar terms within a fixed time period.

Eric Daniels, COO of Southern Light, said in a release that its partnership with Allied Fiber will enable the provider to "complete a 100G Backbone Ring that will connect communities in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida -- from Mobile to Jacksonville to Atlanta and many cities in between."

Partnering with Allied Fiber comes at a time when Southern Light has set an aggressive fiber build strategy.

In December, Southern Light announced it began building a new network extension in its Southeast market to accommodate a fiber-to-the-tower (FTTT) macro tower contract with a large unnamed wireless operator.

It has also been seeing growing demand for dark fiber solutions, particularly from wireless operators deploying small cells and businesses looking for alternative providers.

The deal also has implications for Allied Fiber. As a neutral dark fiber provider, Allied Fiber can add another diverse fiber provider to accommodate its customer needs.

In addition to Southern Light, Allied Fiber recently struck similar IRU deals with C&W Networks and Planters Communications, a Georgia-based independent telco.

For more:
- see the release

Related articles:
Southern Light sees growing opportunities in dark fiber, small cell backhaul
Southern Light sees dark fiber opportunities for small cell, macro cell backhaul applications
Southern Light to build 1,650 mile dark fiber network
C&W Networks signs 20-year dark fiber IRU with Allied Fiber
Allied Fiber signs 20-year dark fiber, colocation agreement with Planters Communications

This article was updated on Jan. 19 to correct the statement that Southern Light, not Allied Fiber, won a FTTT contract in the Southeast.