Dark Fiber

TMCnet Contributor

American Fiber Systems (AFS) claims it is now the most competitive access provider in Las Vegas after the recent on-net extension to eight high-profile casino and gaming business locations. AFS provides metropolitan fiber optical networking infrastructure, dark fiber and Ethernet transport services to carriers and large enterprises.

The optical fiber network of AFS provides connectivity for the gaming industry, large municipalities and businesses with high bandwidth needs. At present, this optical fiber network is responsible for the majority of gaming revenue on and off the Strip. In addition, AFS's Las Vegas network is also the preferred local access provider for those looking to connect to major long haul carriers as well as for those who require access to carrier hotels like Switch's ultra-secure SuperNAP.

In a release, Rich Coyle, senior vice president of operations at AFS, said the network has been operational since 2001 and has experienced consistent growth each year. It was carefully designed and constructed as a future-proofed network to accommodate the growth of existing customers, as well as the addition of sizable business parks, law firms, carriers and utilities. Companies that are consolidating their Las Vegas offices and building off-site data centers for critical backup functionality turn to the redundant American Fiber Systems network.

AFS’s local network serves properties along the Strip as well as downtown Las Vegas and all key metro areas. The intercity long haul network ring of AFS connects Las Vegas with Reno, Salt Lake City, UT and Boise, ID to remote locations and data centers. Also, a significant portion of the fiber network is located in "Power Zones," which are underground and above-ground areas that take advantage of the lowest physical routes and highest steel transmission poles. This network design provides businesses on the AFS network with the most secure and reliable fiber optic network in the Las Vegas market.

A privately held venture-backed company, AFS operates its own fiber network. AFS enables its customers to easily and reliably connect to a city's most important points of communications presence; CLEC PoPs; Internet Service Provider (ISP) and data center locations; Inter-exchange “carrier-hotels;” and wireless providers. AFS has been recognized with awards like Best-In-Class Awards from Atlantic-ACM, a Boston-based telecommunications research firm and the Best U.S. Metropolitan Provider Award from Capacity Magazine (News - Alert).