A while back Verizon completed its first major FiOS deployment to all of its original target customers. There was a lot of speculation as to whether Verizon would try to bring their insanely fast broadband connections to consumers in other markets, and that question appears to be answered. Strangely enough, a similar question regarding the future of AT&T’s U-verse deployment was also answered in a similar time frame: both networks are looking to expand to new territories, perhaps in part because of the incredible amount of attention paid to broadband in them media.
Broadband in the Media and on the Mind
The FCC’s 100/100 by 2020 standard has raised a lot of eyebrows, but not nearly so many as Google’s announcement of a gigabit broadband connection that will be available to a lucky 50,000 to 500,000 consumers sometime in the future. The public is now aware that the rest of the world is steadily surpassing the United States in terms of broadband performance, and the FCC’s recent Broadband.gov speed test initiative only further prove that point. This makes it a perfect time for ISPs and providers to jump on the bandwagon and start offering their best services to as many customers as possible while simultaneously developing and deploying faster networks.
AT&T U-Verse is Live in Springfield!
Lucky residents of Springfield now have the option of selecting AT&T’s amazing U-verse for all of their digital entertainment, data, and/or telephone needs. U-verse is one of the faster non-FTTH services around, and it is capable of amazing performance, though FiOS is generally quicker and looks to have a brighter future. Putting the fiber issue aside for just a moment, the main point is that carriers who have been slow to offer high-quality services replete with the latest features are now starting to pay attention to customers in less densely populated areas. While AT&T’s move into Springfield is probably the result of months or even years of preparation, it is still progress.
If there is one thing High Speed Experts is about, it is about seeing and enjoying the latest broadband technologies. Thus, it brings a smile to our faces to see major names start offing their top-tier services in new markets. Springfield, Battlefield, Nixa, Republic, and parts of Fremont Hills, welcome to the high speed universe!
Back to the Fiber!
The situation with Verizon and their FiOS network is a little less clear, even though a recent deployment to Millis (Massachusetts) just went online. Verizon is torn between its attempts to blanket significant portions of the country with a new 4G-LTE wireless network and expands its next generation FiOS network. While there is a certain logic to expanding 4G-LTE and FiOS in tandem, as both use fiber optics to connect to the Internet’s data-backbone, there is a question as to whether or not Verizon has pockets deep enough for such a dual-front deployment. Time will certainly tell, and the FCC’s new incentives to bring ultra-fast broadband directly to consumers may play a role in Verizon’s final decision. That being said, the current rumor is that Verizon is looking to expand into at least a handful of new markets during the next year or so, and that is a good thing.
One thing that is clear about the future of FiOS is that it will be a lot better than it is today, and that by itself is impressive. More channels are being added every so often, new apps emerge on a weekly basis, the next-generation FiOS network looks to be blazingly fast, and now there is a rumor of HD/3D channels as part of package. Verizon’s FiOS is already a great network and service, but it might get a lot better while simultaneously serving a lot more people in the near future.
Future Deployments
While both AT&T and Verizon are fairly tight-lipped about their future deployments, it does seem safe to say that more announcements are likely to be incoming. If the FCC’s program is truly beneficial to networks, then AT&T and Verizon will not be the only companies issuing press releases and sales flyers about their newest broadband offerings in the coming months. There are many other major players out there, and there may be room for smaller companies to experience aggressive expansion under the new FCC program. Time will tell, but it is certainly a great time to be a broadband enthusiast.
Bookmark and Promote!
Related Articles:
- None Found
