AT&T to launch ultra high-speed gigabit Internet in Asheville, 37 other cities

From AT&T Newsroom:

AT&T’s fastest Internet speeds available over 100% fiber, up to 1 gigabit per second, and access to award winning TV services

Over 1 million Locations Passed Today, AT&T More Than Doubling Footprint by End of 2016

38 Additional Metros Scheduled to Receive Service, Already Live in 18

ASHEVILLE, Dec. 7, 2015 – AT&T announced today it is planning to expand the availability of ultra-fast speeds through AT&T GigaPowerSM to homes, apartments and small businesses in parts of 38 additional metros across the United States, which will total at least 54 metros served, including in the Asheville area.

With the launch of our ultra-fast Internet service in parts of 2 of these metros today – Los Angeles and West Palm Beach – AT&T GigaPower is now available in 20 of the nation’s largest metro areas.

Internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second over the AT&T GigaPower network let you instantly access the latest online movies, music, games and more.3 AT&T GigaPower can also improve your experience when connecting to the cloud and videoconferencing, and gives you the speed to power all of your devices.

“We are excited that even as folks enjoy an unparalleled quality of life in the Asheville area, they will have access to the blazing fast lane on the information highway,” said Venessa Harrison, president of AT&T North Carolina. “Just as new horizons unfold around every corner in the mountains, the AT&T GigaPower network will open up an incredible array of new opportunities, innovations and possibilities for consumers and small businesses.”

“Everyone wants the fastest and strongest Internet,” said Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. “High-speed Internet connections improve access to education, health care and employment opportunities. Today’s announcement that AT&T will bring ultra-fast fiber network to our community is great news for consumers and small businesses.”

Nearly 2 years ago, we successfully launched the first AT&T GigaPower metro in Austin, Texas. This launch led to a major expansion in multiple metros beginning in 2014. We recently marked a major milestone deploying the AT&T GigaPower network to more than 1 million locations, and we expect to more than double availability by the end of 2016.

We’ll continue to roll out our fastest Internet services over a 100% fiber network to reach more than 14 million residential and commercial locations.

AT&T GigaPower gives customers some of the fastest online speeds available anywhere. You can download 25 songs in less than a second, a TV show in three seconds or your favorite HD movie in less than 36 seconds.

AT&T GigaPower customers also have access to the latest Wi-Fi technology, making it possible to enjoy our best in-home Wi-Fi experience. You get faster Wi-Fi speeds, expanded coverage and support for all your devices.

With DIRECTV now a part of the AT&T family, customers on the AT&T GigaPower network in the Asheville area will be able to choose between our award-winning DIRECTV or U-verse TV services.

When you sign up for qualified DIRECTV programming, you get immediate access to a broad range of TV content on your compatible mobile device through our DIRECTV application, even before we install your TV service, through our “Walk out Watching” program.

In the home DIRECTV customers with qualified programming have access to more than 315 channels, more than 200 in full-time HD, and the most comprehensive selection of sports programming. You can watch the programming you love, live or On Demand and experience it on almost any screen. DIRECTV On Demand offers access to more than 10,000 movies and shows to high-speed Internet customers with connected set-top boxes, including the hottest new Pay Per View releases.

Customers on the AT&T GigaPower network in markets eligible for AT&T U-verse TV service can watch and record up to 6 HD programs at the same time, and will be able to record and store more of your favorite shows – up to 900 hours of SD or 330 hours of HD programming.

We’re continuing to work with local leaders within the 21 state service area who are interested in expanding the availability of the 100% fiber-optic AT&T GigaPower network to consumers and small businesses.

Frost & Sullivan recently recognized AT&T for its leadership in high-speed Internet services. It awarded AT&T the 2015 North American Competitive Strategy and Innovation Leadership of the Year Award for Broadband. The analyst firm praised AT&T for its “aggressive pursuit of higher bandwidth access” for customers through its AT&T GigaPower network initiative.

AT&T has invested more than $1.6 billion in its wireless and wired networks in North Carolina between 2012 and 2014.

For more information on where the AT&T GigaPower network is and will become available, visit att.com/gigapowermap.

Other cities receiving this service are:

• Alabama: Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery

• Arkansas: Fort Smith/Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock

• California: Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose⁴

• Florida: Pensacola and West Palm Beach

• Georgia: Augusta

• Indiana: Indianapolis

• Kansas: Wichita

• Kentucky: Louisville

• Louisiana: Baton Rouge, Shreveport-Bossier, Jefferson Parish region and the Northshore

• Mississippi: Jackson

• Missouri: St. Louis⁵

• Michigan: Detroit

• Nevada: Reno

• North Carolina: Asheville

• Ohio: Cleveland and Columbus

• Oklahoma: Oklahoma City and Tulsa

• South Carolina: Charleston, Columbia and Greenville
• Tennessee: Memphis

• Texas: El Paso and Lubbock

• Wisconsin: Milwaukee

– See more at: http://about.att.com/story/plans_to_reach_38_more_metros_blazing_internet_speeds.html#sthash.SJntj51B.dpuf