Cox will face off with CenturyLink with 1 Gbps service in Phoenix, other markets

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) has been making headlines with its plans to launch 1 Gbps fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) services in 16 cities, but in the Phoenix area it will face off with cable competitor Cox Communications, which will offer similar service in the fourth quarter this year.

Cox will leverage a mix of GPON-based FTTP technology and extend into the remaining area of the market using DOCSIS 3.1-enabled equipment when it becomes available.

Kevin Hart, Cox's executive vice president and CTO, told Multichannel News that "we are on track for a fourth quarter launch in Phoenix," and that the initial buildout will include FTTP to serve various greenfield areas, including a mix of new multiple dwelling units and housing developments and "some overbuild for existing neighborhoods."   

Phoenix is the first of several markets where Cox will offer the 1 Gbps service.

In addition to Phoenix, Cox said it plans to build out fiber-based 1 Gbps service in Las Vegas and Omaha next, two markets where it will also compete with CenturyLink. Ultimately, Cox plans to deliver the 1 Gbps to service to all of its markets by 2016.

For its part, CenturyLink announced an aggressive 1 Gbps FTTP plan in August where it will extend services to residential and business customers in select locations in 16 cities. Under its plan, CenturyLink said that it would provide the 1 Gbps service to residential and business customers in 10 cities and business customers in another six cities.

For more:
- Multichannel News has this article

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