In just one year of work within the city, telecommunications company Hargray Fiber is increasingly becoming an integral part of the fabric of Peachtree Corners. This summer, the company expanded its partnership with Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners to go beyond providing fiber connectivity for the smart city living laboratory’s 1.5-mile autonomous vehicle test track.
Hargray is now also providing the same critical infrastructure for Curiosity Lab’s Innovation Center, a 25,000-square-foot facility in which early-stage startups and tech companies test new ideas and corporate innovation teams discover one another.
“The Hargray Fiber team is committed to helping Curiosity Lab grow its technology ecosystem through fast, uninterrupted network connectivity,” said Betsy Plattenburg, executive director of Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, in a July 27 press release. “They have worked with us and the City of Peachtree Corners to provide critical connectivity for our autonomous vehicle test track, and their local presence made them a natural choice to provide our Innovation Center residents with fiber connectivity as well.”
To better foster technology innovation at Curiosity Lab, Hargray now provides fiber connectivity for Innovation Center members at speeds of 1 gigabyte upload/download, using a diversified path for fiber that minimizes service interruption and downtime.
Chuck Waters, General Manager EAS, Hargray Fiber, said the company “really values and appreciates” its relationship with Curiosity Lab.
“We’re thrilled to be part of such a forward-thinking initiative in the Peachtree Corners community,” Waters said. “Smart cities provide the technology infrastructure essential to drawing new businesses, jobs, and residents to the community and we are proud to be part of the tremendous success in Peachtree Corners.”
‘A philanthropic mindset’
Founded in 1949, Hargray Fiber has grown from a local telephone company to a regional telecommunications company offering a wide variety of internet, TV and phone services in cities throughout the southeastern U.S.
The Savannah,Ga.-based company makes a point of being active in the communities it serves by supporting local charities, organizations, projects and events. That’s definitely the case in Peachtree Corners, where Hargray is already making its mark, according to Brandon
Branham, assistant city manager.
“Hargray has jumped in to being a part of the community, not by just selling fiber services, but joining local chambers and supporting events at both the Innovation Center and Atlanta Tech Park,” Branham said. “They also have a very philanthropic mindset and have already taken on projects with several community organizations. They are a great addition to our already wonderful business community.”
Waters said community involvement helps Hargray provide services “relevant to customers’ needs.”
“Our belief is by being deeply involved in our local community we gain a better understanding of the business requirements and truly understand what’s important to the community. This helps us provide better business solutions through technology, not just selling cookie-cutter products and services,” Waters said.
He said Hargray wants to be part of helping Peachtree Corners develop and grow the incubator companies that evolve at Atlanta Tech Park.
“Providing high-quality, resilient and reliable fiber-based data service is critical to attracting these startups,” Waters said. “Insuring these new businesses stay in our community as they launch, enjoying the same exceptional customer experience they had at the Atlanta Tech Park, is why we have built the state of the art fiber network in Peachtree Corners, an investment in the growth of our city.”
Nashlee Young, Atlanta Tech Park’s Director of Business Operations, said Hargray is a partner in the tech park’s “ecosystem.”
“They join us at our networking events, have their staff meetings here, participate in the daily work environment and help sponsor some of the community building we do at Atlanta Tech Park,” Young said.
“It allows us to continue building relationships and build an ecosystem that not only helps Hargray build relationships but also helps companies to stay connected in Peachtree Corners,” she continued.
“Their participation in events and speaking to our community makes them more aware of the technology that is being put in place here at Peachtree Corners. They financially help support some of our events as well.”
In August, Hargray sponsored the tech park’s Cyber HealthTech Conference and was a presenting sponsor for the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Breakfast, which was held at Atlanta Tech Park.
“The city of Peachtree Corners’ progressive leadership and vision for a smart city that will serve its residents and businesses for many years to come is why we have made a substantial investment in this community,” Waters said. “The tremendous support from city management and leaders, along with the Atlanta Tech Park and Curiosity Labs, has been essential to the early success Hargray Fiber has enjoyed.”
