Fiber-optic company formed to bring high-speed access to secondary markets

March 21, 2000
Six energy and telecommunications companies have announced the creation of America's Fiber Network LLC (AFN), a new super-regional, fiber-optic company with a network of more than 7,000 route miles connecting major markets in the eastern U.S. to secondary markets with a growing need for broadband access.

3/21/00 Six energy and telecommunications companies have announced the creation of America's Fiber Network LLC (AFN), a new super-regional, fiber-optic company with a network of more than 7,000 route miles connecting major markets in the eastern U.S. to secondary markets with a growing need for broadband access.

The initial footprint of fiber in AFN puts the company in position to reach areas responsible for roughly 35% of the national wholesale communications capacity market. While many telecom companies focus on Tier 1 markets or metro markets, AFN plans to take a super-regional approach, reaching underserved markets--like Athens, OH; Binghamton, N.Y.; Morgantown, WV; and Charlottesville, VA--and connecting them to Tier 1 markets. The network area stretches from New York City to Chicago and from Rochester, NY, to Johnson City, TN.

The new company is formed by AEP Communications, a subsidiary of American Electric Power; GPU Telcom, a subsidiary of GPU, Inc.; Allegheny Communications Connect, a subsidiary of Allegheny Energy, Inc.; FirstEnergy Telecom, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.; CFW Communications; and R&B Communications.

AFN will serve as a carrier's carrier, providing telecommunications capacity to Internet service providers, competitive local exchange providers, long-distance providers and wireless communications companies.

Sponsored Recommendations

Innovating the network edge with 100ZR QSFP28: The next frontier in coherent optics

Jan. 15, 2025
In this webinar, Juniper Networks, EXFO and Precision Optical Technologies are teaming up to showcase the new 100ZR QSFP28 pluggable coherent technology, exploring its foundational...

Optical Transceivers in the Age of AI: Impacts, Challenges, and Opportunities

Jan. 13, 2025
Join our webinar to explore how AI is transforming optical transceivers, data center networking, and Nvidia's GPU-driven architectures, unlocking new possibilities in speed, performance...

ON TOPIC: Filling Coverage Gaps, Enhancing Public Safety

Jan. 30, 2025
With the ongoing drive to support AI and the need for high-speed data center interconnection, the call for higher-speed 800G optical technology is emerging. Initially focused ...

State of the Market: AI is Driving New Thinking in the Optical Industry

Dec. 5, 2024
The year 2024 marked an inflection point for AI. In August, OpenAI’s ChatGPT reached 200 million weekly active users. Meanwhile, McKinsey reported that 72% of ...