Allied Fiber opens southeast fiber-optic network route

Allied Fiber, which plans a nationwide open-access, network-neutral colocation and dark fiber network, says that the first links on its southeastern route are ready for service. The newly opened route segment runs 360 miles from Miami, FL to Jacksonville, FL, and is part of a system expected to reach Atlanta (see “Allied Fiber begins installation of Miami-to-Atlanta fiber-optic network route”).

As with the rest of Allied Fiber’s infrastructure, the fiber cable system features a unique design that simplifies connection to the network and to colocation facilities (see “Bubble-era ambition in a post-bubble world”). The three major components are high-count dark fiber cable, handholes for lateral splicing, and integrated, network-neutral colocation facilities. The 528-count fiber-optic cable uses Corning’s SMF 28e+ and LEAF fiber. The cable accessible via handholes installed every 5000 feet along the network.

The newly opened run connects NAP of the Americas in Miami to 421 West Church Street, the main carrier hotel in Jacksonville. In between, the cable provides access to Allied Fiber’s network-neutral colocation facilities in West Palm Beach, Ft. Pierce, Rockledge, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville. The modular 1200-square-foot facilities are designed to support 64 customer cabinets, 150-kW protected AC 120-V and DC -48-V power, backup generators, HVAC, and 24/7 NOC monitoring services.

“This announcement is a monumental step in Allied Fiber’s evolution to becoming the first national, open-access, integrated network-neutral colocation and dark fiber superstructure in the United States,” said Hunter Newby, CEO of Allied Fiber. “We believe the Florida segment of our Southeast route will serve as a standard for all future segments of our national build where the process and benefits of physical interconnection will be repeated. The impact on all network operators and the communities that they serve across the nation will be to provide access to improved network speeds at more cost effective rates by introducing choice. The access to quality, reduced costs, increased revenue, and improved margins through direct connect options for service providers will result in a significant contribution to overall economic growth and productivity gains throughout the country.”