AT&T is looking to increase its push into the fiber space, announcing plans to expand its fiber network into as many as 100 markets across 21 new metropolitan areas to support the rollout of its U-verse service that can provide data speeds of up to one gigabit per second.
The telecom giant noted that the major markets include: Atlanta, and Augusta, Ga.; Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C.; Chicago; Cleveland; Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth, Texas; Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Kansas City, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.; Nashville, Tenn.; and St. Louis. The potential markets will join already announced efforts in Dallas and Austin, Texas; and Raleigh-Durham and Winston-Salem, N.C.
However, in deciding which markets to launch, AT&T added that it will work with local leaders to “discuss ways to bring the service to their communities,” hinting that there may need to be some form of agreements to make these deals happen.
“Similar to previously announced metro area selections in Austin and Dallas and advanced discussions in Raleigh-Durham and Winston-Salem, communities that have suitable network facilities, and show the strongest investment cases based on anticipated demand and the most receptive policies will influence these future selections and coverage maps within selected areas,” AT&T noted in a statement.
As part of its Austin launch, AT&T said that it expects the same consideration that Google received from Austin’s local government as part of the Internet search giant’s launch of fiber services in Austin. Specifically, AT&T identified rights of way, permitting, and state licenses, saying it would expect the city to offer AT&T whatever it offered Google, as well as any investment incentives that Google received.
AT&T plans to expand coverage in Austin throughout 2014, and launch service in Dallas this summer. AT&T announced earlier this month that it was in discussions with North Carolina Next Generation Network to bring its U-verse and fiber product to parts of Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Winston-Salem and Raleigh. The proposed plan for the North Carolina communities, which requires ratification from the six city councils, outlined fiber deployments in areas where AT&T claims there is demand for ultra-fast broadband and “sound policies for investment.”
AT&T added that the planned fiber expansion is part of its $14 billion Project VIP initiative announced in late 2012. That program is set to include at least $8 billion in funding towards expanding wireless services, which includes expanding LTE coverage to 300 million potential customers by the end of 2014.
“In many places, AT&T’s 4G LTE service will be the first high speed IP broadband service available to many customers,” the company noted at that time.
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