AT&T, Comcast expand gigabit Internet services

AT&T has launched its 1 Gbps fiber network, GigaPower, in some of the suburbs of Chicago -- “including parts of Elgin, Oswego, Plainfield, Skokie, Yorkville and surrounding communities located throughout the metro area” -- and it plans to expand the network into the Windy City this summer. The service will be available as a standalone service or within a service bundle. U-verse with AT&T GigaPower is already available in some cities across the country, and plans are in the works to bring the service to additional markets.

Across the country in California, Comcast is launching its own gigabit service, the 2 Gbps Gigabit Pro. Although pricing for the service is not yet known, it will be available this summer in some cities in the Golden State, including Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.

“We will continue to look for opportunities to increase speeds to not only stay ahead of customer demands, but also to provide a wide range of options that meet customer needs," said Comcast Cable’s Senior Vice President of the California region Hank Fore in a press release.

In its announcement, AT&T included a statement from Illinois State Rep. Lou Lang that highlighted the social necessity of fast, reliable Internet: “Everyone wants access to the fastest and strongest Internet networks, because high-speed Internet connections improve access to education, health care, employment opportunities and public safety responders.”

U-verse with AT&T GigaPower Launches Today in the Chicago Suburbs (AT&T, April 20, 2015)