In a move expected to hit hard at Google, AT&T announced it is planning to deliver the fastest Gigabit fiber network to some 100 American cities as it continues to innovate its mobile networks. It comes on the heels of recent PR campaigns by competitors that AT&T's current wireless network is dramatically smaller than the other companies on the market.
But now AT&T believes that the cities and municipalities, including the 21 new major metropolitan areas of the country, will have the fastest and most reliable wireless connectivity in the country. It would also see broadband increase up to one Gigabit per second.
According to a press statement from the company, it plans to develop ties with local leaders in the 100 markets - similar efforts have already taken place in Austin and Dallas - to bring this increased speed to their citizens and communities.
AT&T believes that this new technological innovation and advancement in mobile technology will help the company increase its market share and be an economic boost.
The company has listed the 21 candidates for the new service. They include Atlanta, Augusta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Greensboro, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Oakland, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, St. Louis, San Francisco, and San Jose.
"We're delivering advanced services that offer consumers and small businesses the ability to do more, faster, help communities create a new wave of innovation, and encourage economic development," said Lori Lee, senior executive vice president, AT&T Home Solutions.
She also said the company is looking to go into communities that want the advanced technology and are hopeful that by doing so they can encourage investment in local communities.
Ironically, Google had already announced a similar plan earlier this year to boost its connectivity and speeds for communities. The catch for AT&T is how they plan to build and develop the new cities with the technology. The company still maintains that it is in the formative stages of development and it could take some time before it comes to fruition.
The mobile company also added that the expansion of U-verse through GigaPower is part of an overall investment plan that will "enhance" and grow the wireless and IP broadband networks to help buttress customer growth in high-speed Internet.
While it won't impact the company's investment plans already in the dole for 2014, the company hopes that continued efforts will reach 57 million customers by the end of next year.
