June 21, 2006 San Antonio, TX -- AT&T Inc. announced an agreement with General Growth Properties to build a fiber-to-the- premises (FTTP) network to deliver the AT&T U-verse suite of services -- which includes integrated digital TV, high-speed Internet, and voice services -- to a 20,000-home master-planned community near Houston.
The agreement, AT&T's largest such contract to date, underscores one of the company's key strategic initiatives for connecting customers to its Project Lightspeed fiber footprint. It will enable AT&T to make Internet Protocol-based communications and entertainment services available to the estimated 65,000 residents who will move into Bridgeland, a 10,000-acre residential development currently under construction.
The Bridgeland agreement -- while unique in size, scope, and approach -- is one of hundreds of agreements AT&T has completed for fiber-based developments, the company says. These agreements represent more than 270,000 homes in newly planned communities across the country that have become part of the AT&T Smart Moves program.
Research underscores the demand for advanced communications and entertainment services among new homeowners. In fact, some studies show that half of new home buyers upgrade their entertainment packages and almost 70 percent buy broadband, compared with 38 percent nationwide.
"Many of today's home buyers are embracing the digital lifestyle and want advanced communications and entertainment options as soon as they move in," said Ed Cholerton, AT&T vice president and general manager for the Houston market area. "The AT&T Smart Moves program at Bridgeland is one strategic way that we are connecting customers with our next generation of services -- while providing builders and developers with added value that helps differentiate their planned communities."
The first Bridgeland model homes are to open this summer, with construction of the remaining residential and commercial properties to continue through 2020.
"Bringing fiber-optic telecommunications to the home will make life in Bridgeland a great marriage of nature and technology. You'll connect to schools and neighbors by tree-lined walking trails while connecting to the globe through an electronic broadband pipeline with enormous technological potential for communication, entertainment, and access to the Internet," said Joe Necker, vice president of development for General Growth Properties. "Internet Protocol television will give Bridgeland residents the most advanced available technology for getting information and entertainment."
Since 2005, the total number of single-family homes under AT&T Smart Moves contracts has increased from about 460,000 to more than 830,000 -- including those that are fiber-enabled and others that involve bundled services and other types of networking.