Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) Information Technology (IT) has completed a major fiber infrastructure upgrade, installing over 40,000 linear feet of new fiber optic cabling to create a dedicated, high-capacity circuit between the Savannah River Site’s (SRS) Central Data Center and the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF).

The new link, consisting of 288 individual fiber strands, significantly increases bandwidth, speed, and redundancy—enabling the secure, high-speed transmission of mission-critical data to support digital transformation, modern manufacturing, artificial intelligence initiatives, and a growing workforce of more than 1,500 users supporting Pit Production Operations and Program (PPOP). Digital Transformation will enable accelerated product development, integration, qualification, manufacturing and surveillance. IT Network Engineers are responsible for managing the fiber link, which terminates at a single switch located within a telecommunications room at the Savannah River Site.

“This expansion brings PPOP one step closer to executing our mission,” said Erika Baeza-Wisdom, SRNS Deputy Vice President, Pit Production Operations and Programs. “The IT infrastructure necessary for meeting future production demands is significant, requiring successful collaboration and integration across all areas of the Site. Achievement of this critical piece of infrastructure ahead of schedule demonstrates how SRS is ensuring we deliver national security for the United States.”

Initially installed in the mid 1990’s, SRS’s underground fiber optics needed a major upgrade. Today, as technology has evolved, so has the demand for data, data storage and data consumption. The dedicated circuit link includes 40,000 linear feet of fiber.

Tim Arnold, SRNS Associate CIO, IT Financial Management, said, “This is a foundational step in modernizing our network infrastructure. When we first installed fiber in 1995, it was designed for telephone and low-speed network use. The landscape has changed dramatically since then. Now, we must support terabytes of data moving at high speeds.”

The demand is already here: SRPPF is expected to generate 6-10 terabytes per work package, with an estimated 75-100 packages per year. This scale of data movement requires next-generation infrastructure to ensure operational readiness and data integrity at every level of the enterprise.

“Modernizing our fiber infrastructure is a crucial milestone in our journey towards digital engineering and modern manufacturing,” said Bruce Page, SRNS Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer. “This new, high-capacity link ensures we are prepared to support the complex demands of advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and a growing workforce, all while securing our national security objectives. It’s a testament to our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and future growth.”

Construction began in May 2023 and was completed two years later, ahead of the originally targeted 2027 delivery date. Despite significant challenges, the project was delivered on time and within budget, a testament to the planning, execution, and dedication of the SRNS IT and Infrastructure teams. SRNS will continue making strategic investments in its network infrastructure to ensure all post-construction missions are supported.

“Advance planning and collaboration across multiple organizations supporting the SRPPF project was instrumental in delivering this necessary upgrade that will be crucial for facility operations once construction is complete,” said Daniel Atkins, SRNS Deputy Vice President, Director of Project Delivery for SRPPF. “The increased data requirements needed to support the SRPPF pit production mission were recognized in early planning, and the project has pushed to ensure this expanded fiber infrastructure is available.”