AT&T (NYSE:T) has expanded its Fixed Wireless Internet service to homes and small businesses in rural and underserved locations across 15 new counties in Florida. The company first launched the service in parts of Florida in June.
The Internet service is now available to residential and business customers in parts of Alachua, Bay, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hernando, Jackson, Levy, Marion, Putnam, St. Lucie, Taylor, Volusia and Washington counties.
AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet service is designed to provide downstream speeds of at least 10 Mbps and upstream speeds of at least 1Mbps. The connection comes from a wireless tower to a fixed antenna on customers' homes or businesses.
The rollout, now in 18 states, began in April earlier this year and is part of AT&T's FCC Connect America Fund (CAF) commitment. The telco plans to provide access to more than 1.1 million locations by 2020. In addition to Florida, the service is available in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, the Carolinas, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
"In the last century, rural communities relied on an infrastructure that included roads and analog or digital communication services, while today they need an IP-based communications infrastructure that includes high-speed broadband capabilities to remain competitive," said Joe York, president of AT&T Florida. "With this innovative service, we are working to provide a game-changing technology that will close the connectivity gap in Florida and will bring additional opportunities for more customers in more parts of our state."