Ripley Power and Light Company’s dark fiber infrastructure can connect your business to the outside world through high-speed fiber.
“Companies that lease our dark fiber have the capability to exchange large files almost instantaneously, making them more efficient, competitive and profitable,” said Mike Allmand, Ripley Power and Light President and CEO. “Ripley Power and Light’s fiber system is capable of providing data transmission solutions well into the future.”
Power and Light first installed a dark fiber loop around Ripley and up Highway 209 to Halls. It then expanded its infrastructure north of Halls to Dyersburg and south of Ripley to outside Henning. Its fiber now connects to high-speed fiber installed by other electric utilities and to a nationwide high-speed fiber network.
Outside of Halls, Ripley’s fiber connects to fiber infrastructure installed by Forked Deer Electric Cooperative. At U.S. 51, Ripley installed dark fiber north for about two miles so it could connect to Dyersburg’s fiber infrastructure and maintain the high-speed connectivity for its customers to the outside world. Fiber installed from the City of Ripley along Highway 209 to just south of Henning connects to Southwest Electric Membership Corporation fiber.
From there, it is connected to high-speed fiber installed by other systems. A major benefit to Ripley’s fiber network is that it has two paths to the outside world, which is a huge benefit to companies with critical data transmission needs, such as the school system.
Initially, Ripley Power and Light needed a fiber infrastructure so it could have “real-time” information about its substations and other facilities for security purposes and emergency outages.
Since glass fiber can handle large amounts of data almost instantaneously, the utility started leasing its spare fiber to other businesses.
Income from leasing the fiber is put back in the system to help keep utility rates down, said Allmand.
Today, Ripley and Halls schools, medical facilities, banks, industry and other businesses use the fiber for high-speed internet access and to exchange large data files within the community.
“Our fiber system can be used for computer networking, phone communications, video, facility monitoring, security and other technology needs,” Allmand said.
Companies interested in leasing the dark fiber can call Mike Allmand or Chris Mooney at 731-635-2323.
