Tulsa, Oklahoma joins the growing list of AT&T Fiber locations, which now numbers 55 markets. AT&T plans to reach 75 metros serving 12.5 million or more locations with its gigabit capable service by the middle of 2019.
The service in the Tulsa area will reach Jenks, Owasso and other communities. As is the case with these AT&T Fiber launches, select neighborhoods and MDUs are targeted first in any given market, rather than a traditional overbuild with FTTP. The carrier said that it has invested more than $775 million in wireless and wireline services in Oklahoma between 2014 and last year.
“I am glad to see this investment from AT&T, and am certain that the increased ability to tout Tulsa’s connectivity to fiber internet further strengthens the reputation of our community,” said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum in a press release.
Gigabit Momentum
AT&T is far from the only carrier adding gigabit capability, even with upstarts like Google Fiber slowing down. In April, and after a long absence in the ultra-broadband movement, Verizon launched Fios gigabit capability. The service offers speeds of 940 Mbps downstream and 880 Mbps upstream. Initial markets are New York; New Jersey; Philadelphia; Boston, Providence; Richmond and Hampton Roads, Va. and Washington, D.C.
Cable operators have taken over the gigabit momentum in some ways, with Comcast offering a fairly aggressive gigabit roll out, and others in line as well including Cox. Numerous tier 3 carriers throughout rural America are also active in gigabit.
The network speed landscape will change further with the introduction of 5G services beginning in 2018 with fixed 5G services. For the first time, wireless will offer roughly equivalent ultra-broadband speeds to wireline services, at least that’s what we’ve been led to believe. We’ll know more in the coming years as the technology is deployed at scale. The line between what is doable with wireless technology and what can only be done with wired connectivity could potentially shift.
The AT&T offering in the Tulsa metro is priced at $70 per month if bundled with other services and $80 as a standalone if taken on an annual basis.
