AT&T (NYSE: T) is enhancing its small to medium business (SMB) U-verse expansion efforts in the southern states it serves by offering qualifying companies in Alabama and Georgia up to 12 months of free 6 Mbps Internet service.
Like the promotion it began in Missouri and other states, customers have to meet three criteria: be new AT&T wireless business customers adding Mobile Share Value 10GB or higher plans; be existing AT&T mobility business customers migrating to AT&T Mobile Share Value 10GB or higher plans; or be existing business customers on Mobile Share Value 10GB or higher plans.
In Alabama, the promotion will be available in six key markets and surrounding areas: Birmingham, Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, Mobile and Montgomery. Similarly, in Georgia, SMB customers that reside in eight cities--including Atlanta, Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, Valdosta and Thomasville--can get the free promotion.
The telco said that eligible customers will be able to save $420 a year.
Available through April 30, the promotion also is available to small businesses in parts of several states including California, Kansas, Texas, Missouri and South Carolina.
These promotions come at a time when cable operators are stepping up their focus on the SMB market, one that AT&T and other incumbents have largely ignored in recent years. Cable has been enhancing its SMB play by offering a mix of data and voice services over its existing HFC plant and, increasingly, their own fiber networks. However, the one thing that AT&T can bring to the table is bundling in wireless.
Although consumers continue to be a key focus, SMBs are becoming a bigger factor in U-verse growth, a trend that was on display during the fourth quarter of 2013. The service provider added 78,000 business U-verse high speed broadband subscribers, which it said was a growing trend.
For more:
- see the Alabama release
- and the Georgia release
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