AT&T brings 1 Gbps service to Houston, surrounding areas

AT&T (NYSE: T) is now offering its 1 Gbps GigaPower fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) service in Houston and various surrounding areas, enhancing its reach in its home state to battle insurgent players like Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG).

In this latest buildout, the service provider said it will offer the service in parts of Houston, Bellaire, Pasadena, Northwest Harris County and surrounding communities located throughout the metro area.

However, it did not say exactly what parts of these communities will be the first to get the service.

Similar to recent launches it made in Cupertino, Calif., pricing for the 1 Gbps service is competitive.

For those users that want a standalone 1 Gbps or 300 Mbps data-only service, prices begin at $110 or $80, respectively. Both products include a one-year price guarantee.

The U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV dual play bundle offers Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps and qualifying TV service starting for $150 a month, while a bundle of 300 Mbps and a qualifying TV service costs $120 a month. Finally, U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV + Voice offers 1 Gbps with qualifying TV service and Unlimited U-verse Voice starting as low as $180 a month, or speeds at 300 Mbps with qualifying TV service and Unlimited U-verse Voice as low as $150 a month.

Both the dual play U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV and U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV + Voice also have one year price guarantee.

While Google Fiber has not named Houston as part of its 34-city proposal for its FTTP service, it's clear that its presence in existing AT&T markets like Austin is driving the telco to adjust its pricing scheme for its 1 Gbps service. In Dallas and the Kansas City area, two markets where Google also provides service, AT&T has cut the price of its 1 Gbps service.

Thus far, the 1 Gbps service is available to consumer and small businesses across segments of Austin, Cupertino, Dallas, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Raleigh-Durham and Winston-Salem markets. AT&T has also announced plans to deliver AT&T GigaPower in parts of 10 additional markets--Atlanta; Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C.; Chicago; Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Miami; Nashville, Tenn.; St. Louis and San Antonio.

For more:
- see the release

Special report: Gigabit Wars: The best prices for 1 Gbps service from ILECs, MSOs and municipal providers

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