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AT&T Launches 1 Gbps Gigapower Service in Kansas City

AT&T says they're finally bringing their faster 1 Gbps "GigaPower" service to portions of Kansas City. According to an AT&T press release, the company will initially offer the faster speeds in portions of Kansas City, Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe and Overland Park, with plans to ultimately expand to Independence and Shawnee. Historically, AT&T has primarily targeted these faster speeds at higher-end housing developments where fiber is already in the ground.

In Austin where Google Fiber is available for $70, AT&T is offering users symmetrical 1 Gbps connections for $70 if they agree to AT&T online behavioral ad tracking, or $100 if not. In portions of Dallas, where Google Fiber hasn't launched, AT&T is offering the same service starting at $120.

The company says they're offering Gigapower in Kansas City for $70 and up, depending on the bundle:

quote:
U-verse High Speed Internet 1Gbps: Internet speeds up to 1Gbps for $70 per month****, includes waiver of equipment, installation and activation fees, and a three year price guarantee.

U-verse High Speed Internet 1Gbps + TV: Customers who also select U-verse TV will receive free HBO, HBO GO and HD service for 36 months starting at $120 per month with qualifying TV services.

U-verse High Speed Internet 1Gbps + TV + Voice: Customers will receive all of the benefits of Internet speeds up to 1Gbps and TV package, plus AT&T U-verse Unlimited Voice starting at $150 per month.


Those quadruple asterisks note that, like Austin, users need to agree to have their online behavior tracked via the AT&T Internet Preferences program if they want that $70 price point.

While AT&T has promised to deliver Gigapower to "up to" 100 markets, we've noted repeatedly how the program is a bit of a show pony. AT&T has actually been significantly cutting most fixed-line network investment, and the scattered Gigapower deployment is used to not not only give the impression they're matching Google Fiber blow for blow -- but is useful as a carrot on a stick for regulators.

"We've moved quickly to bring more competition to the Kansas City area for blazing-fast Internet speeds and best-in-class television service," said AT&T Missouri President John Sondag, hoping people ignore the fact that his company actually responded relatively slowly to Google Fiber. "But this is just our initial launch. We look forward to continuing to expand our AT&T GigaPower network in the Kansas City area where there are strong investment cases and receptive customers."

Most recommended from 77 comments



bockbock
@hcs.net

2 recommendations

bockbock

Anon

So...

Yet still no upgrades for xFITL/DISC*S customers? Oh wait, only competition drives changes. As it seems, where AT&T still provides their xFITL services, the big cable companies (Comcast, Charter, Cox, etc.) are going to be grabbing those customers until upgrades are put in place.