US telecoms firm Network Connex has deployed fiber shelters on a fiber route connecting Atlanta, Georgia, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The fiber network was built by DC Blox and lands at the operator’s cable landing station in Myrtle Beach.

The eight fiber shelters, which also operate as In-Line-Amplification shelters, are 24’ x 36’ micro data centers.

The micro data centers enable high-speed data traffic and will expand broadband services from Internet service providers (ISPs) to underserved communities in South Carolina and Georgia, said the telco.

Network Connex managed all civil and outside plant infrastructure buildout, including utility coordination, shelter procurement, material, design, engineering, power design, and integration services.

Michael Thomas, Network Connex’s senior director of national ISP services, said: “What’s unique is that we can offer full turnkey support, from A to Z. We understand all phases - from engineering and site acquisition work that can reduce costs on land, to delivering consistently high-quality shelter deployments at every location along the route.”

Jeff Wabik, chief technology officer at DC Blox, added: “While Network Connex may not be visible as the dark fiber and data center operators they support, their partnership and professionalism on this build was critical for us to stand up this network on time. This new route positions DC Blox to offer high-capacity network solutions to the hyperscalers, communications providers, local ISPs, and enterprises throughout the region and far beyond.”

DC Blox announced plans to build a second cable landing station in Myrtle Beach earlier this year. The operator said three of the five available slots have already been reserved at the original landing station - two for Google and one for Meta.

DC Blox also operates data centers in Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Greenville and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Headquartered in Illinois, Network Connex builds and designs fiber networks for data center operators, hyperscale cloud companies, and wireless network service providers. The company’s services include engineering, wireless and fiber construction, testing, fiber placement, and construction management.

Network Connex has been a portfolio company of a fund managed by Orix Capital Partners since June 2018.