AT&T ups 1 Gbps to 12 markets with Charlotte, N.C. launch

AT&T (NYSE: T) has launched its U-verse with Gigapower 1 Gbps fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service in Charlotte, N.C., marking the twelfth area where it has launched service.

Similar to other areas where it offers service, AT&T will offer eligible users three main single, double play and triple play service tiers: U-verse High Speed Internet Premier offers up to 1 Gbps for $70 a month; U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV will provide Internet speeds up to 1Gbps and qualifying TV service starting for $120 a month; and U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV + Voice, which offers a triple play bundle of 1 Gbps Internet, TV service and Unlimited U-verse Voice starting for $150 a month.

North Carolina has been a big focus for AT&T's 1 Gbps plans. In addition to Charlotte, AT&T will launch GigaPower in other cities across North Carolina as part of its agreement North Carolina Next Generation Network (NCNGN), a regional initiative focused on stimulating the deployment of next generation networks to North Carolina.

AT&T began discussions with the NCNGN about bringing its U-verse GigaPower offering to six communities, including Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, last April.

With the impending arrival of Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG) to a number of major North Carolina towns and cities, including Charlotte and the Triangle area, AT&T (NYSE: T) began in January to ramp up its workforce to support its own fiber network push in the state.

Google Fiber for its part has not formally launched service yet, but its presence in the state is likely forcing AT&T to enhance its buildout timelines and the way it prices service.

AT&T cut the price of GigaPower in Dallas to $110 from $120. Likewise, in Winston-Salem and Raleigh-Durham, AT&T reduced the price of service from $120 a month to $70.

 For more:
- see the release

Related articles:
AT&T pre-empts Comcast 2 Gbps threat by launching 1-Gig service in Chicago suburbs
AT&T dedicates $1.6B to enhance fiber, U-verse reach in North Carolina
AT&T invests $2.8B to enhance Florida's U-verse, wireless network coverage
AT&T tells FCC it will proceed with 21-city FTTP build

This article was updated on June 15 to correct the fact that Charlotte is not part of AT&T's agreement with NCNGN.