TDS expands 1 Gbps network to southwestern Wisconsin

TDS continues to make progress with its 1 Gbps fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) rollout, adding Bagley, Wis., and surrounding areas to its growing rural service footprint.

Set to go live in August when it completes construction on the fiber network, the service provider will offer the 1 Gbps FTTH speeds as part of a bundle with its TDS service similar to the way it has rolled it out in other markets in Wisconsin and New Hampshire. The 1 Gbps Internet service, available as part of a TDS TV bundle, includes Remote PC Support.

TDS will also bring its Fiberville concept to the Bagley area. Similar to Google Fiber's (NASDAQ: GOOG) Fiberhood, Fiberville rewards residents and neighborhoods with special offers and discounts once 15 percent of the neighborhood pre-registers for TDS TV service. When this happens, "Fiberville" status is achieved and each pre-registered household receives HD video at no additional cost for life.

The telco plans to launch Fiberville in a number other nearby cities including Fennimore in September, Cassville, Potosi and Lancaster in October, and Dickeyville in December.

Concepts like Fiberville and Fiberhood aren't relegated just to TDS and Google Fiber. Other emerging FTTH providers like C-Spire, which is building 1 Gbps-capable FTTH networks in Mississippi, sets qualifications for each target community to get its broadband service and related HDTV and voice services.

Rolling out 1 Gbps over FTTH has been one of the telco's key initiatives.

In January, TDS set an aggressive timeline to deploy FTTH services throughout its wireline territory, with plans to get to 25 percent of its access lines this year. TDS has rolled out 1 Gbps service in over a dozen markets, including a number of smaller towns in states such as New Hampshire and Wisconsin.

While 1 Gbps is clearly the focus for TDS, the service provider is continuing to expand its lower tier speeds like its 25 Mbps offering. TDS is extending its 25 Mbps speed tier bundled with TDS TV in the New Richmond, Ind., area. It expects to begin launching these services in August, and include the surrounding communities of Colfax, Wingate, Linden and Romney. 

For more:
- see this release
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Editor's Corner: Broadband providers' 1 Gig rollouts drive consumer 'halo effect' in speed tiers

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