The ultimate goal of a Cincinnati Bell 2 Gbps pilot in the greater Cincinnati area is to extend the offering across the company’s entire network footprint.
The carrier has spent more than $1 billion upgrading during the past decade and, by the end of the third quarter, had reached about 500,000 addresses with FTTH. The carrier says it will reach the lion’s share of addresses with the network and provide high speed wireless to those that cannot be reached.
The Cincinnati Bell 2 Gbps service is priced at $299 per month.
“The introduction of 2 gigabit Internet is another important milestone in our commitment to provide Greater Cincinnati with networking solutions that are necessary to access jobs, educational opportunities, and healthcare resources,” Cincinnati Bell Chief Operating Officer Tom Simpson said in a press release “As we build out our fiber network, we are simultaneously investing in technologies to fully leverage that network and deliver cutting-edge connectivity to our customers.”
It seems that new technology, architectures and, perhaps, the COVID-19 pandemic are providing glimpses of a post-1 Gig world. Earlier this month, MLGC, which is based in Enderlin, ND, introduced a 5 Gbps broadband tier to several markets it serves with a FTTP network in the east-central region of the state.
The provider, which serves about 2,600 customers across seven exchanges, already offers a 2.5 Gbps service in some markets. The 5 Gbps tier is using XGS-PON gear from Calix. The provider told Telecompetitor that it hopes to eventually offer 10 Gbps service.
In September, Google Fiber said that it is soliciting test participants for 2 Gbps service in Nashville, TN and Huntsville AL. The new service – which will double Google Fiber’s current speed in the two cities – will be priced at $100 per month and include a Wi-Fi 6 router and mesh extender. It is expected to roll out to the other 17 Google Fiber and Google Webpass cities during 2021.
