AT&T GigaPower subscribers in Austin finally get 1 Gbps

AT&T has made good on its promise to bring gigabit broadband to its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) customers in Austin, TX (see "AT&T launches 300 Mbps U-verse in Austin with 1 Gbps on the way").

Those already subscribed to U-verse with AT&T GigaPower will see their Internet speeds upgraded from 300 Mbps to up to 1 Gbps at no additional charge. Existing customers don't need to do anything, the upgrades will happen automatically over the coming weeks, the operator says.

The standard Internet package will offer Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps for $99 per month.

"This is an exciting day for Internet enthusiasts in the capital city," said Dave Nichols, president, AT&T Texas. "With the AT&T GigaPower network, the online experience is incredible. Our customers can stream and download video and music faster than ever before. It will change the way they navigate the web, interact with social media, and complete business transactions. Austin and surrounding communities are once again at the forefront of exciting technology innovation."

In April, AT&T announced a major initiative to expand its AT&T GigaPower fiber network to up to 100 candidate cities and municipalities across 25 markets nationwide (see "AT&T releases list of potential new 1-Gbps FTTH markets"). So far, AT&T has committed to deliver the AT&T GigaPower network to Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Winston-Salem, among other towns in North Carolina (see "AT&T negotiates for 1-Gbps FTTH in North Carolina"); Houston and San Antonio, TX; Nashville, TN; and Overland Park, KS. This summer, AT&T will begin lighting up the AT&T GigaPower network in North Texas – Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding cities.

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 (see "AT&T to buy DIRECTV for $48.5 billion"). All of these 2 million locations are over and above what the company announced in April.

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