Competition is good. Even the threat of competition from companies like Google is spurring more traditional carriers and ISP’s to step up their game. Pricing is getting better in “threat” areas, and speeds are starting to improve. Google doesn’t even need their own Fiber service to be profitable for this experiment to be successful, so long as potential Google customers have access to the next generation of web, media, and advertising services.
Case in point, AT&T is already putting out rumblings of offering their GigaPower Fiber to another community outside of Texas. Residents in North Carolina might soon their broadband increase to 1Gbps over the next two years. This investment should also improve their LTE and WiFi hotspot offerings in the area.
Coming on the heels of Google’s announcement that they were examining expanding Fiber to 33 new cities over the coming years, traditional ISP’s are starting to take the threat seriously. It’s no longer a passing oddity, and are starting to proactively respond. Consumers only stand to benefit so long as competition is increased.
Full AT&T PR below.
RALEIGH, N.C., April 10, 2014 – The finish line to offer more North Carolinians a fiber broadband network capable of speeds up to 1 gigabit per second is within sight. AT&T* is in advanced discussions with the North Carolina Next Generation Network (NCNGN) to deliver AT&T U-verse with GigaPower℠ to parts of the Triangle and Piedmont Triad regions. NCNGN is a regional initiative focused on stimulating the deployment of next generation networks to North Carolina.
The proposed plan outlines potential fiber deployments in the areas of Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh and Winston-Salem where there is demand for ultra-fast broadband and local policies that support broadband network investment. The next step is for the governing bodies of these six NCNGN member communities to ratify the agreement.
The 100-percent fiber network can deliver speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, 10x faster than the fastest consumer broadband available in these communities today, as well as cutting-edge TV and voice services.
| How fast is 1 Gigabit?** |
| Download 25 songs in one second
Download your favorite TV show in less than 3 seconds Download an HD online movie in less than 36 seconds |
“The chance to deploy the fastest consumer Internet speeds the Triangle and Piedmont Triad regions have ever seen shows how dedicated its policymakers and university and business leaders are to bringing the latest technology to the state,” said Venessa Harrison, President, AT&T-North Carolina. “We’re encouraged by our conversations with NCNGN and remain committed to investing in our communities and delivering the technology people want.”
The plan includes options for public Wi-Fi hotspots, free AT&T U-verse with GigaPower at up to 100 public sites and an all-fiber network connected to up to 100 business buildings. It also outlines a free 3 Mbps AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet offer available to 10 affordable housing complexes, up to 3,000 homes. These hotspots, public sites, buildings and apartment complexes will be across the six communities and identified by NCNGN. The plan would also bring AT&T U-verse to the residents and businesses of Durham for the first time.
If the proposed plan is approved, AT&T will work with leaders throughout the Triangle and Piedmont Triad regions to discuss how a fiber platform can advance the area’s technology ecosystem. These talks would also outline where these innovative services can have greater reach throughout the six communities.
“All of the participants in the NCNGN project are encouraged by AT&T’s interest to deliver ultra-fast bandwidth to the Research Triangle and Piedmont regions,” said Tracy Futhey, Chair of the NCNGN Steering Committee and Vice President of Information Technology at Duke University. “This kind of private sector investment is essential to ensure our regions remain competitive and at the forefront of next-generation applications that are important to all sectors of the economy.”
This potential investment is part of AT&T’s ongoing efforts to expand its fiber network to tens of thousands of North Carolina residents and businesses over the next two years. The company invested more than $1.6 billion in its North Carolina wireless and wireline networks between 2011 and 2013.
Other AT&T initiatives in 2014 include:
- Enhance and expand its 4G LTE wireless network, the most reliable network in the nation.*** AT&T 4G LTE wireless service is available in 24 North Carolina markets.
- Expand our U-verse footprint to more areas of North Carolina. U-verse is currently available in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Asheville and surrounding areas.
AT&T launched AT&T U-verse with GigaPower to tens of thousands of households in Austin and surrounding communities in December and in January announced it will expand the fiber network to double the households in the Austin area this year as a result of high demand that has exceeded expectations. AT&T also plans to expand to other markets, like parts of Dallas, in 2014 and beyond.
* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
** Internet speed claims represent maximum Service Capability. Actual customer speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary based on internet factors including site traffic, content provider server capacity, network management activities, device capabilities and use of other U-verse services.
*** Reliability claim based on data transfer completion rates on nationwide 4G LTE networks. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE not available everywhere.