Chattanooga Now Home To America's Fastest Internet
This doesn't actually have anything to do with Google's own intentions to get into the Internet servicing business, but you may assume so at first glance. It seems that Google is still considering where to roll out their fiber-based ISP, but if you need lightning fast Internet right now, you may need to move to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
That small town has just announced the fastest U.S. Internet speeds, with 1 Gigabit speeds being made available for both businesses and residents. EPB Fiber Optics, which is Chattanooga's municipally-owned fiber-to-the-premises network, has partnered with Alcatel-Lucent in order to make it happen, and the good news is that this isn't a plan. It's for real, and it's available to purchase starting today.
EPB operates a high-speed optical fiber network that today offers services to over 100,000 homes and businesses in the metropolitan Chattanooga and surrounding rural areas. 1 Gigabit Internet is exceedingly rare, and it's easily the fastest offered to general consumers in this country. The company claims that they are now tied with a handful of international communities for fastest in the world, and we're hoping that the need for speed spreads quickly.
Powered by Alcatel-Lucent's gigabit passive optical network (GPON) technology, Chattanooga's new network will accommodate speeds of up to 1 gigabit-per-second (Gbps), which is more than 200 times faster than the current national download speed average. Every home and business within EPB's 600 square-mile, nine-county service area will be able to access the network, making it the most comprehensive product of its kind in the United States. Just to put this all in perspective, the FCC's National Broadband Plan is calling for 100 Mbps speeds for 260 million households nationwide by 2020. This new 1 Gigabit service is 10x faster than that.
The only major issue is the major price. Reports have stated that the highest level of service will run $350/month, but honestly, that's not awful if you honestly have a use for the speed. If you're a medium to large-sized business, $350/month is but a drop in the bucket, and having access to a 1 Gigabit connection is probably enough to run your entire business. We love the innovation, and can't wait until this becomes available everywhere at a more reasonable price for consumers.
That small town has just announced the fastest U.S. Internet speeds, with 1 Gigabit speeds being made available for both businesses and residents. EPB Fiber Optics, which is Chattanooga's municipally-owned fiber-to-the-premises network, has partnered with Alcatel-Lucent in order to make it happen, and the good news is that this isn't a plan. It's for real, and it's available to purchase starting today.
EPB operates a high-speed optical fiber network that today offers services to over 100,000 homes and businesses in the metropolitan Chattanooga and surrounding rural areas. 1 Gigabit Internet is exceedingly rare, and it's easily the fastest offered to general consumers in this country. The company claims that they are now tied with a handful of international communities for fastest in the world, and we're hoping that the need for speed spreads quickly.
Powered by Alcatel-Lucent's gigabit passive optical network (GPON) technology, Chattanooga's new network will accommodate speeds of up to 1 gigabit-per-second (Gbps), which is more than 200 times faster than the current national download speed average. Every home and business within EPB's 600 square-mile, nine-county service area will be able to access the network, making it the most comprehensive product of its kind in the United States. Just to put this all in perspective, the FCC's National Broadband Plan is calling for 100 Mbps speeds for 260 million households nationwide by 2020. This new 1 Gigabit service is 10x faster than that.
The only major issue is the major price. Reports have stated that the highest level of service will run $350/month, but honestly, that's not awful if you honestly have a use for the speed. If you're a medium to large-sized business, $350/month is but a drop in the bucket, and having access to a 1 Gigabit connection is probably enough to run your entire business. We love the innovation, and can't wait until this becomes available everywhere at a more reasonable price for consumers.
Chattanooga Tenn Announces Only 1 Gigabit Broadband Service in U.S. for Both Residential and Business Customers
EPB leveraging Alcatel-Lucent's GPON solution to offer the nation's fastest broadband service
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. and PARIS, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- EPB Fiber Optics, Chattanooga's municipally-owned fiber-to-the-premises network, and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced the only 1 Gigabit broadband service in the United States for residential and business customers is now available citywide in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
EPB operates a high-speed optical fiber network that today offers services to over 100,000 homes and businesses in the metropolitan Chattanooga and surrounding rural areas. With the new 1 Gigabit symmetrical service offering, Chattanooga offers the fastest broadband service in the country, and is tied with a handful of international communities for fastest in the world.
Powered by Alcatel-Lucent's gigabit passive optical network (GPON) technology, Chattanooga's new network will accommodate speeds of up to 1 gigabit-per-second (Gbps), which is more than 200 times faster than the current national download speed average. Every home and business within EPB's 600 square-mile, nine-county service area will be able to access the network, making it the most comprehensive product of its kind in the United States.
"Chattanooga is light years ahead when it comes to providing ultra fast broadband," said Tom Edd Wilson, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. "By offering the fastest available speeds to a whole community comprising a diverse population living in both urban and rural areas, Chattanooga has become the living laboratory for today's innovations and tomorrow's companies."
With EPB and Alcatel-Lucent's announcement of 1 Gigabit service, Chattanooga is now 10 times faster and 10 years ahead of FCC's National Broadband Plan calling for 100 Mbps speeds for 260 million households nationwide by 2020.
"This groundbreaking commercial offering creates tremendous opportunities for residents and businesses in the region," said Harold DePriest, President and CEO of EPB. "With access to the fastest broadband speeds in the United States, Chattanooga represents the next frontier in communications technology, with limitless potential for new applications for education, entertainment, healthcare, industrial development and more."
"EPB has long been a pioneer in deploying fiber solutions, putting the Chattanooga community at the forefront of high-speed, high-tech communications," said Robert Vrij, President of Alcatel-Lucent's Americas region. "Alcatel-Lucent has been part of EPB's vision to bring next-generation services and applications to Chattanooga from the beginning. That collaboration speaks volumes about the confidence they have in our technology, our expertise, our global leadership and our ability to help create one of the world's most advanced high-speed broadband access networks."
Alcatel-Lucent is the worldwide leader in fixed broadband access, supporting the largest mass deployments of video, voice and data services. Today, one out of three fixed broadband subscribers around the world is served through an access network provided by Alcatel-Lucent. Alcatel-Lucent is involved in more than 100 fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) projects worldwide, more than 85 of which are based on GPON technology. Alcatel-Lucent is the driving force behind the first commercial PON-based 1 Gbps-offerings in the world – i.e. EPB Chattanooga (US), Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited and ZON Multimedia (Portugal).
To learn more about Chattanooga, Tennessee's new 1 Gigabit broadband service, please visit http://www.chattanoogagig.com.
