The FINANCIAL — On June 15, AT&T launched U-verse with AT&T GigaPower to residential and small business customers in parts of Charlotte and surrounding communities. Customers have a new choice for ultra-fast Internet access from AT&T – delivering the speed customers need to power all of their devices and connect them to the content that matters most – on Charlotte’s first residential network to feature speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second.
“Everyone wants access to the fastest and strongest Internet networks, because high-speed Internet connections improve access to education, health care and employment opportunities,” said Dan Clodfelter, Charlotte Mayor. “Today’s announcement that AT&T will offer its ultrafast AT&T GigaPower fiber network in our community is great news for consumers and small businesses.”
Ultra-fast Internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second can improve the customer experience for consumers and small businesses using the network to connect to the cloud, videoconferencing, online gaming or for other services. Customers can download 25 songs in less than a second or their favorite HD movie in less than 36 seconds, according to AT&T.
U-verse with AT&T GigaPower customers also get high-speed Internet with 99.9 percent reliability and the fastest, most powerful Wi-Fi signal through an upgraded residential gateway that takes advantage of the latest in Wi-Fi technology. The new gateway connects more devices over Wi-Fi with faster speeds from nearly anywhere in the home or business.
Customers who subscribe to U-verse with AT&T GigaPower will continue to have access to award-winning U-verse TV services. For example, they can watch and record up to five HD programs at the same time. AT&T GigaPower subscribers will also be able to record and store more of their favorite shows–up to 900 hours of SD or 330 hours of HD programming. Customers can access the AT&T U-verse App on more than 30 smartphones and tablets to watch more than 230 live TV channels in their home, and more than 170 live TV channels while on the go — that’s more than twice as many live TV channels on the go than cable. Customers can also stream video on demand, schedule DVR recordings, and access other features from the U-verse app.
Consumers in eligible areas can choose from a variety of plans. AT&T offers single, double and triple play bundles, so customers can select a combination of services to fit their needs. The packages below include a three-year price guarantee and waivers of equipment, installation and activation fees.
U-verse High Speed Internet Premier: Internet speeds up to 1Gbps starting as low as $70 a month.
U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV: Internet speeds up to 1Gbps and qualifying TV service starting as low as $120 a month.
U-verse High Speed Internet Premier + TV + Voice: Internet speeds up to 1Gbps with qualifying TV service and Unlimited U-verse Voice starting as low as $150 a month.
“We’re excited to launch our ultra-high-speed AT&T GigaPower network in the Charlotte area. Residents and small businesses want the latest technologies and AT&T is delivering,” said Venessa Harrison, AT&T North Carolina president. “The AT&T GigaPower network will help encourage economic growth by facilitating a new wave of innovation through enhanced opportunities for education, health, research and small business growth.”
The success of the first AT&T GigaPower market in Austin led to a major expansion beginning in 2014. AT&T plans to expand its 100 percent fiber network in up to 25 markets. U-verse with AT&T GigaPower has officially launched in parts of the Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Cupertino, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Nashville, Kansas City, Raleigh-Durham and Winston-Salem markets. Plans have also been announced to launch AT&T GigaPower in parts of the Greensboro, Jacksonville, Miami, St. Louis and San Antonio markets.
Additionally, AT&T has committed that upon approval of its proposed acquisition of DIRECTV, the company will expand the AT&T GigaPower network to an additional 2 million customer locations. All of these 2 million locations are over and above what the company announced in 2014.
Frost & Sullivan recently recognized AT&T for its leadership in high-speed Internet services, awarding the company 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 in North Carolina communications networks, people and local communities for 136 years. Between 2012 through 2014, AT&T invested more than $1.6 billion in its best-in-class wireless and wired networks in North Carolina, driving a wide range of upgrades to enhance reliability, coverage, speed and performance for residents and business customers. AT&T employs more than 6,700 people across the state.
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