Frequently Asked Questions

We will enable, not compete. Internet Service Providers (ISP) nationally have experienced stressed bandwidth due to the unforeseen increase of teleworking for businesses and government as well as virtual education due to the impact of COVID-19. The Regional Fiber Ring will lower the barriers to entry for new internet service providers, with the goal of increasing competition, decreasing prices, and increasing speeds. The regional fiber ring will reduce the cost of services to regional city governments, develop infrastructure for Smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT), help each jurisdiction achieve its vision, and support the Military as well as the financial services, cybersecurity, biomedicine, maritime and innovation sectors.

Southside Network Authority's actions will increase competition, decrease prices and increase internet speeds while minimizing taxpayer financial risk. During the February 11, 2022, SNA Board Meeting, the Authority voted to approve a Cost Sharing and Project Participation Agreement and allocated funds for the project. Each city provided $5M in funding and purchased 20% equity or twenty shares each. A construction contract has been awarded to Danella Construction for $24.5M. SNA selected GTS to be our public-private partner to operate, maintain, and market the RCR.

A construction contract was awarded to Danella Construction for $24.5M. We anticipate the construction process will be completed in late Summer 2024.

GTS will operate, maintain, and market the RCR.

A construction contract has been awarded to Danella Construction for $24.5M.

The regional fiber ring invests in the fiber infrastructure necessary to facilitate future wireless and 5G opportunities for all areas including unserved and underserved areas. By reducing the fiber infrastructure investment needed by Internet Service Providers (ISP) to provide wireless internet services, the Authority will lower the financial barriers that prevent providers from investing in our region.

There are a number of regions and cities that have built fiber network rings like the Authority regional fiber ring concept. There are many different operating strategies being employed including municipally owned and operated, P3 for funding and operation, as well as hybrid models that include public ownership and operation as well as "turn-key" operation where a company funds, builds, operates, and maintains the fiber ring.

The fiber ring will include the installation of three conduit paths with the first containing 288 strands of fiber. The second and third conduits will also be capable of holding an additional 864 strands of fiber for future expansion.

The original design of the fiber ring was developed to provide the most cost-efficient and effective connection routes between the 5 Southside cities while considering current and future areas of economic growth. Each city's Economic Development Department provided input to the fiber ring design. Additionally, the Chief Information Officers regularly briefed and received feedback from organizations such as Virginia Beach Vision, the Greater Norfolk Corporation, Reinvent Hampton Roads, and Higher Education institutions. The Southside Network Authority will continue to review how the fiber ring can be leveraged to support the business community and others. 

The Southside Network Board of Directors is made up of five voting members and five alternate members, with one voting member and one alternate appointed by the governing bodies of each of the member locations (Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.) Members of the Board or their alternate members may be, but are not required to be, members of the governing body or professional staff of a member locality.

The Authority is still in the process of developing strategic objectives in conjunction with our P3 partner, GTS. This includes measures of success and service agreement levels. However, the most important measure of our success will be the delivery of better, faster, less expensive, and more accessible broadband.