A CenturyLink G.fast strategy began in Platteville, Wisconsin, where the broadband carrier has deployed what it claims to be the largest G.fast deployment in North America. That strategy will include deploying G.fast to MDUs, MTUs, and neighborhoods where fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) is present.
In Platteville, CenturyLink will serve nearly 800 apartment units across 44 MDUs. CenturyLink says their G.fast technology can provide up to 600 Mbps, but initial deployments in Platteville aren’t going to approach that.
CenturyLink will initially offer a 60 Mbps tier for $54.95 a month or $44.95 when bundled. A 40 Mbps tier priced at $34.95 and $24.95 when bundled will also be offered, according to a CenturyLink spokesperson.
“We successfully launched speeds up to 600 Mbps to these MDUs during our trial,” said the CenturyLink spokesperson. “These speeds will be available to customers once we have them in our system and can bill for the service. This work is underway.”
CenturyLink’s IPTV service, Prism TV will also be offered. CenturyLink will utilize in-building coax wiring to deliver the ultra-broadband service in this Platteville deployment.
“We saw a great opportunity to use existing copper assets in our Platteville network to bring ultra-fast Internet speeds to customers who live in areas that typically don’t have access to these new broadband technologies delivering higher speeds,” said Aamir Hussain, CenturyLink executive vice president and chief technology officer in a press release. “We take a fiber-first approach when deploying faster broadband speeds but enabling G.fast over copper infrastructure helps us reduce costs, speed time to market and effectively connect our customers to the power of the digital world in areas where fiber deployment is less feasible.”
CenturyLink G.fast Strategy
G.fast is an emerging next-generation broadband technology which leverages copper infrastructure. Early deployments focus on MDUs, primarily because of their short distance characteristics (500 meters or less is ideal). But CenturyLink G.fast strategy will include FTTC environments as well, according to the company.
This is CenturyLink’s first G.fast deployment, and while no other specific G.fast trials are underway, the company is currently evaluating other markets for potential G.fast deployment, according to the spokesperson.
Other traditional telcos are active on the G.fast front. Windstream recently announced a G.fast deployment and AT&T, BT, and others are trialing the technology, with major deployments expected soon.
CenturyLink is using a Calix AXOS G.fast platform in Platteville, managed via the cloud through Calix’s Compass Consumer Connect Plus software, according to the company. The Calix platform utilizes Sckipio G.fast chipsets.
“As we designed it, the G.fast installation is very fast and it is accelerating the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband services at affordable prices,” says Michael Weissman, vice president of marketing at Sckipio in a statement. “G.fast will cause the largest transformation in the U.S. broadband landscape in a decade or more.”
This post has been updated.
