AT&T (NYSE: T) has debuted its 1 Gbps fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) service GigaPower in Nashville, Tenn., and surrounding communities where it will face off with Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and its faster 2 Gbps offering.
Specifically, the telco will offer the service in parts of Clarksville, Lebanon, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Smyrna and surrounding communities located throughout the Nashville metro area.
By launching the service in Nashville, AT&T now offers the GigaPower service in a total of 11 markets.
Similar to other areas where it currently offers the service, eligible customers will get their choice of three packages: U-verse High Speed Internet Premier, which provides up to 1 Gbps for $120 a month or 100 Mbps for $90 a month; U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV offers Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps and qualifying TV service starting at $150 a month, or speeds at 100 Mbps and a qualifying TV service for $120 a month; and U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV + Voice serves up Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps with qualifying TV service and Unlimited U-verse Voice starting at $180 a month, or speeds at 100 Mbps with qualifying TV service and Unlimited U-verse Voice for $150 a month.
The U-verse High Speed Internet Premier and U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV include one-year price guarantees, while the U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV + Voice comes with a two-year price guarantee.
Despite the progress that AT&T is making, it faces a formidable challenger in Comcast, which now offers a 2 Gbps FTTP product also in Nashville. In addition to Nashville, Comcast has announced it would bring the service to Atlanta, Chattanooga, Tenn., California and Florida, with plans to roll out the service to 18 million homes by the end of the year.
While AT&T has been aggressively expanding its 1 Gbps service, the FCC's new net neutrality rules could put a damper of uncertainty on potential new FTTP investments.
AT&T's CEO Randall Stephenson told investors during J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference that the FCC's new net neutrality rules that will go into effect next month could curtail future FTTP investments.
"I believe if the rules as passed were the rules of the land for next 10 years it would have a dramatic effect on investment," Stephenson said.
For more:
- see the release
Related articles:
AT&T's Stephenson: Google Fiber 'changed the game' for broadband buildout, but Title II rules could stall efforts
Google Fiber's presence pressures AT&T to adjust 1 Gig pricing plans
AT&T's adds $29 privacy requirement to $70/month 1-Gig option
AT&T lights up 1 Gbps service in Research Triangle and Winston-Salem, N.C.
AT&T completes transition of GigaPower customers in Austin to 1 Gig