AT&T Makes Major Gigabit Push

AT&T (NYSE:T) is making a major gigabit Internet push with its U-verse with GigaPower service. In the last two days, the telco announced gigabit launches in parts of its markets in and around Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, FL; Crown Point, Gary and Hammond, IN; and San Antonio and New Braunfels, TX.

Pricing starts at $80 a month for 300 Mbps and $110 a month for up to 1 Gbps, with some restrictions, most notably an added cost to opt out of AT&T Internet Preferences, which collects Web browsing information to generate targeted ads. Bundles including video and voice services are available as well.

AT&T also announced it is tripling Internet speeds to 300 Mbps for all current 100 Mbps customers in the Chicago area. The speed upgrade is planned to occur automatically by October 15.

Following its launch in Austin, TX, last year (the initial launch had only 300 Mbps speeds), U-verse with GigaPower is now available in 17 metro areas. The telco also plans to offer service in parts of the Jacksonville and St. Louis metro areas. Longer term, AT&T's goal is to reach more than 14 million residential and commercial locations with the gigabit-capable service, and expects to reach more than 1 million of them by the end of the year.