Both Star America Infrastructure Partners and Fengate Asset Management have announced that they have been shortlisted for the Georgia Interstate Broadband Deployment Project, which involves the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of a fiber optic and wireless broadband network on approximately 1,305 centerline miles (2100km) of limited access facilities managed by Georgia Department for Transportation (GDOT), primarily comprised of interstate and limited state route right-of-way.

Star America is participating in the tender in consortium with Zayo Group and Black & Veatch. Fengate is leading a bidding team comprised of eX2 Technology, A2D, Inc., J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc., and AECOM Technical Services. One other team has been shortlisted, following a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) issued in May this year.

The Request for Proposals for the project will be issued to the shortlisted teams this winter, with final proposals expected to be due in 2019.

The principal objective of the project is to accommodate GDOT’s existing and future intelligent transportation system (ITS) communication needs, including the expansion of the NaviGAtor Traffic Management Network to increase safety and its reliability for Georgia residents. 

The wireless initiative would utilize “small cell” poles on the right of way of state routes to facilitate the change from 4G technology to 5G. The project could meet the internet requirements of rural communities, which would enable GDOT to better connect its offices and improve traffic management throughout the state, which is located in the south-east of the USA.