Verizon makes all of its FiOS broadband tiers symmetrical, upgrades new, existing users for free

Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is giving its FiOS data customers another reason to smile about their experience by upgrading all of its existing data tiers to symmetrical speeds.

Under its plan, Verizon said it will transition all of its qualifying residential customers to the higher upload speeds throughout the next few months. There's no additional cost for FiOS customers that transition to the new speeds.  

The service provider is increasing the speeds of its six main tiers: 15/5 tier jumps to symmetrical 25 Mbps; 50/25 is now symmetrical 50 Mbps; 75/35 is now symmetrical 75 Mbps; 150/65 is now symmetrical 150 Mbps; 300/65 is now symmetrical 300 Mbps, and 500/100 is now symmetrical 500 Mbps. 

Pricing for the new tiers is competitive with the 25, 50 and 75 Mbps offered at $49.99, $59.99 and $69.99 a month. The telco did not reveal the pricing of the higher speed 150, 300 and 500 tiers. When Verizon announced its 500/100 Mbps asymmetrical speed tier last July it was $310 a month for a bundled subscription, while the 300 Mbps tier was initially priced at $209.99 per month on a month-to-month basis and $204.99 with a two-year contract.

New customers that opt for a triple-play bundle with symmetrical 25 Mbps data and Quantum TV will be able to lock in their monthly subscription price to $89.99 if they order the service online and $99.99 for those who subscribe to service by contacting Verizon via their customer service center.

While residential customers will be the first to get the upgrade, the telco plans to transition existing and new FiOS small business customers later this year.  

Initially, the upgraded speeds will be available to customers that are members of Verizon's My Rewards+ program. "Customer upgrades to equalized download and upload speeds will continue throughout the fall, starting with customers enrolled in My Rewards+ or who join the program now," Verizon said in a blog post.

Providing higher upload speeds comes at a time when more consumers are uploading more of their gaming, video and photo content online.

These symmetric upgrades could make FiOS even more compelling, particularly in large markets like New York City, where it competes with cable operators like Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC). Despite their efforts to leverage new DOCSIS 3.0 technology, cable operators have traditionally struggled to enhance their upload speeds.

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