At the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo in New Orleans in October, fiber announcements focused on solutions that can be adapted to cable networks rather than require operators to "rip and replace." One example is a remote-PHY CCAP architecture that allows fiber to be deployed from the node. And since the show, the gigabit news has kept rolling.
Here are some of the most recent highlights:
Ting, a division of Tucows (NASDAQ:TCX), has plans to deploy fiber-based symmetrical gigabit Internet in Holly Springs, NC. The company already offers the service in Charlottesville, VA, and Westminster, MD. There are 30,000 residents in Holly Springs. Ting continues to assess demand and will begin construction based on response as soon as the first half of 2016.
Telcos AT&T (NYSE:T) and EATEL were amongst those with gigabit announcements. AT&T launched U-verse with Gigapower in parts of Jacksonville, FL, and said portions of St. Augustine will follow during the first half of 2016. For its part, EATEL joined ADRAN's (NASDAQ:ADTN) community-empowerment program and will use the vendor's gigabit broadband platform for a planned GIG Internet offering in Ascension and Livingston Parishes in Louisiana.
Bright Point Communications in upstate New York also jumped on the ADTRAN bandwagon, announcing deployment of Gigabit service in Ticonderoga, NY.
Suddenlink continued rollout of gigabit residential Internet service, most recently deploying it in Bossier City and Lake Charles, LA; Tyler, Georgetown and Victoria, TX; and St. Joseph, MO. The company has actually announced around two dozen launches since July as part of Operation GigaSpeed, a plan to offer 1 Gbps services in 90% of its markets by the end of 2017.
Google Fiber (NASDAQ:GOOG) revealed it is looking at Oklahoma City and Jacksonville and Tampa, FL, for its gigabit-capable Internet service. Also under consideration are the previously announced San Diego, San Jose and Irvine, CA; Louisville, KY; Portland, OR; and Phoenix.
Cox Communications launched its G1GABLAST gigabit Internet service in several properties in downtown Providence, RI. This is an RFoG-based service and is currently available in markets in 10 states. Cox has said it plans to launch gigabit in all its markets by the end of 2016.
During the first quarter of 2016, Cable ONE (NYSE:CABO) plans to begin a deployment of gigabit service to more than 200 markets. The service will be based on DOCSIS 3.0 and will run over the company's existing HFC network. The first cities scheduled to get the service include Altus and Duncan, OK; Borger, TX; Emporia, KS; Bisbee, and Cottonwood, AZ; and McCall, ID.
FairPoint Communications plans to launch symmetrical 1 Gbps fiber-based Internet service in Portsmouth, NH, and surrounding communities.