News
Windstream has announced reaching a major milestone during construction of a planned dark-fiber route along the East Coast.
A 459-mile stretch of Windstream’s underground “Beach Route” fiber cable, which runs from Raleigh, North Carolina to Savannah, Georgia, ” is now complete, equipped, and ready for immediate service,” according to Windstream.
The Raleigh to Savannah route, which runs through Myrtle Beach, is considered the northern stretch of Windstream’s Beach Route, the company’s Feb. 19 release stated.
In Myrtle Beach, Windstream announced that their fiber route connects with the DC BLOX cable landing station in the city. According to Windstream, the connection allows businesses to have access to the Firmina, Nuveum, and Anjana sub-sea cables.
Windstream’s Beach Route, when completed, will stretch 651 route miles “across a unique path down the East Coast of the United States and consists of 864-count buried fiber,” the company’s announcement stated. Along the Beach Route’s Southern portion, Windstream reported it is making considerable progress. Windstream’s announcement said the company has added 192 route miles of new conduit, which extend from Savannah to the Jacksonville Beach Network Access Point.
“Scheduled for service by the second quarter of 2024, this segment will provide access to two key sub-sea cables, AMX-1 and PCCS,” Windstream’s announcement stated.
Windstream announced that further news regarding the progress of the Beach Route will be released in the second quarter of 2024 “as the company lights these segments, seamlessly integrating this diverse route into its ICON network for 100G and 400G wave services scheduled for deployment in the second quarter of 2024.”
According to Windstream, the Beach Route will grant access to over 12 data centers and 14 government and military locations once it is completed.
“Extensive broadband expansion opportunities include partnerships with municipalities, utilities, and cooperatives,” Windstream’s Feb. 19 announcement stated. When finished, the route is planned to extend connectivity and enhance dark fiber network expansion opportunities in Atlanta, Miami, and Charlotte.
