TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Effective communication is essential to any successful business venture. The Augusta-Aiken MSA and Burke County are aware of the importance of up-to-date technology in running a productive and profitable business. The MSA and Burke County keep businesses and residents informed through a full range of communications media. With the most sophisticated and advanced telecommunications equipment in the country, the area is served by local and competitive exchange carriers.

Telephone companies are being transformed into full-service technology networks, ultimately combining the functions of today's telephone, cable television, video conferencing and data communications networks into one system. The availability of fiber-optic cable throughout the MSA contributes to this telecommunications revolution through its ability to deliver communications between people and businesses anywhere at any time.

The MSA offers a large variety of long distance carrier choices through a multitude of points of presence redundantly served by the local exchange carriers. The MSA also has a large variety of voice, data and Internet wireless service providers.

The following state-of-the art communications services are available in the MSA and Burke County:

SYSTEMS OVERVIEW

• Digital networks including state of the art digital central offices throughout Richmond, Columbia and Burke Counties.
• Multiple fully redundant fiber optic networks.
• Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) rings in service
• 100% interoffice facilities are on redundant fiber.
• Video conferencing, telemedicine and distant learning applications.
• Work-at-home services for telecommuters – MSA uniquely offers high-speed broadband internet service through Comcast and knology via cable modem and BellSouth via DSL.
• High capacity digital trunking for security, reliability and efficiency.
• Local Area Network (LAN) & Wide Area Network (WAN) interconnection
• DS1/DS3 and other fiber optic private line services.
• Packet switching services, such as ATM and Frame Relay.
• ISDN basic and primary rate - DSL services.
• Analog and digital video services.
• High speed Internet access from a large variety of providers.
• Call Center communication services such as Primary Rate ISDN, High-Speed Internet Access and Ring Topologies to Long Distance. Local Exchange Carriers provide Augusta area Call Centers the advanced communication infra-
  structure to meet their complex needs.