Equinox Global Telecommunications, a provider of carrier grade, low-latency telecommunication network services, has begun accepting dark fiber orders from its Charlotte, Georgia customers.

This step brings new technology to the area, as dark fiber is used for fiber-optic communication. Fiber technology can handle the increasing demand for installations and connections, yet costs less than other communication options. It’s also a more reliable technology and is currently used by many high impact companies such as railroads, cable companies, civil engineering work, and now telecommunication companies.

Equinox is using the fiber technology for exactly what is was designed for, low cost and network growth.

“Equinox’s expansion into Atlanta, Macon and Columbus, GA marks the second phase of our southeast expansion plans,” states Harold Greene, a spokesperson for Equinox Global Telecommunications. “We have worked diligently on the network planning to make sure our network will provide diversity, reliability and opportunities for growth to our customers. We look forward to building a network that further positions the southeast as leading region for conducting business.”

The telecommunications provider said it expects the project to take at least a year to complete and expects to install the last networking cable by 2015.

This expansion coincides with the announcement from the University of Virginia stating that the school has signed a 20-year contract with FiberLight (News - Alert) to provide dark fiber services to the university.

The new agreement will allow FiberLight to leverage its 46-mile direct underground network it began developing three years ago to build a more direct connection between Culpeper, Va., and Charlottesville.

"We are seeing many visionary Colleges and Universities planning for their future bandwidth and capacity needs.  It is an honor to partner with and assist an admirable institution such as The University of Virginia," said FiberLight's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing David Spitznagel. "We are excited and committed to this growing relationship not only with the University, but with the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County."