Cox brings 1 Gbps service to middle Georgia, lays greater challenge to AT&T

Cox Communications is bringing its 1 Gbps show to the middle Georgia market, laying a greater challenge to AT&T (NYSE: T) and other gigabit players in the state.

The cable MSO announced the expanded availability of residential 1 Gbps Internet speeds during an event at the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce in Warner Robins, home to the first neighborhood in the state, Tiffany Kensington, to receive Cox's new service.

Besides the Tiffany Kensington subdivision in Houston County, Georgia, Cox's gigabit Internet service is also available at South Bend in Bonaire, and will be available as additional properties will be coming online with gigabit services in the near future.

 

In order to deliver the 1 Gbps speeds, Cox will leverage a mix of GPON-based fiber to the premises (FTTP) technology and extend into the remaining area of the market using DOCSIS 3.1-enabled equipment when it becomes more widely available.

Being able to provide services via a mix of FTTP and DOCSIS 3.1 equipment that lets Cox use its existing HFC network means it can contain costs while being to scale the service more readily into new areas.

But 1 Gbps is only part of Cox's plan for middle Georgia. Similar to earlier market launches of the 1 Gbps service, Cox is also going to increase speeds of its Premiere and Ultimate broadband internet packages as well.

Beginning this week, Cox Ultimate customers will see maximum download speeds increase from 200 Mbps to 300 Mbps, and Premiere customers will go from 100 to 150 Mbps.

The company said it will offer residential gigabit speeds in all of its markets by the end of 2016. Cox has already launched its Gigablast service in parts of the Phoenix, Arizona and Orange County, California areas, as well as Las Vegas, Baton Rouge and Omaha.