STL lends its muscle to Lumos fiber build

STL is already cashing in on a decision to bring its fiber manufacturing stateside, striking a deal to supply cables to regional internet service provider Lumos. In addition to fiber, STL will supply Lumos with its Opto-bolt product, a pre-connectorized drop cable designed to reduce installation time by “de-skilling field installation, while bringing modularity into the network design,” according to Lumos Chief Network Officer David Smith. Essentially, STL is providing Lumos a way to reduce fiber deployment costs by “increasing the efficiencies of an installation along with reduced material usage," he claimed. Lumos provides fiber internet to more than 300,000 homes and businesses in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, with plans to reach 1 million fiber passings by 2026. The company is undertaking engineering and construction in 18 markets within those three states, Smith noted.