Ma Bell slows down broadband expansion

AT&T Slowing U-Verse Deployment? [Broadband Reports]

Financial analysts pouring over AT&T's U-Verse broadband and video product have discovered a significant slowdown in the telephone company's roll-out of the product. According to UBS Research analyst John Hodulik, AT&T initially planned to pass 11 million new homes with U-Verse this year. Now Hodulik estimates that the number may only be 4 to 5 million homes, down from 9 million in 2008.

So, what's the reason that AT&T isn't rolling out broadand and video at anticipated levels? Om Malik, writing at GigaOM, indicates that the economic recession could be one factor. However, Broadband Reports isn't buying that as an explanation. Cable operators are announcing plans to upgrade their plant to provide up to 50 and even 100 Mbps DOCSIS 3.0 broadband service, far faster than what AT&T's U-Verse is technically capable of.  Broadband Reports speculates that AT&T is slowing down its U-Verse expansion because its 18 Mbps speeds won't compete with the next generation of cable broadband, and the phone company's engineers are having a tough time figuring out how to get additional speed from old copper phone lines.

In fact, in addition to slowing down U-Verse expansion, Broadband Reports points out that AT&T recently revised their U-Verse terms of service to "manage customer expectations" when it comes to broadband speeds, clarifying the technical limitations that the phone company's wires have when it comes to delivering broadband.

Comments

[jvorkmuts]

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[Hindi]

I agree they say it is unlimited plan but the truth is it has a cap on it last time I cellad their support center says my account is capped so I asked how much is the download limit and they say it is just a whipping 25gb..what a bummer .asan ang unlimited dun?unlimited connection lang pala ito kala ko pa naman speed can't even read a single page in my favorite manga dahil capped ang service ko IT SUCKS!but i have no choice dahil ito lang ang service na inooffer dito sa amin no other choice

[Amy]

Internet relocation aextniyYou like that? I just made that term up. Anyway, when you're about to make a big move, either across the state or across the country, you've got enough stuff to worry about. Boxes, moving truck, housing, getting your cars there, finding schools for your kids don't forget your internet service! Of course, if you're like me, it's the first thing you think about. I don't claim to be normal. So how do you find out who offers high speed in your new digs? Here's a few simple tips:Ask your current provider: You've got to call them to disconnect anyway, right? Ask them if they offer service at your new address. If they do, great! They'll get you all set up with a transfer of service. If they don't, ask them if they know any providers there. They might not, but hey, you've already got them on the phone. Just plug in your new ZIP code and you'll get a list of cable, DSL, and wireless internet providers in the area. Bonus, they offer user reviews and and ratings, so you can see who's good and who's not. Well, you know seems like you can find everything else there, why not. If the above options fail, you can always type cable internet [name of city and state] or dsl [name of city and state] and you should get a list of local providers.Ask someone who lives there: Moving for work? Ask your coworkers-to-be who they use. Moving for family? Ask them who they use. Ask your realtor or apartment rental office who the local options are. All of them will probably offer some opinions too, which you can't get from looking at a provider's website.Of course, if you're moving to a fringe area, you may find that all providers may not be able to uh provide service in your location. This is common in rural areas or at the fringes of new subdivisions on the edges of town. In the former case, you may be stuck with either dialup (oh, the horror) or some form of wireless, whether it's terrestial wifi, cellular data, or satellite. In the latter case, it's usually just a matter of the housing developers building faster than the internet providers can extend the infrastructure, and you'll just have to wait a bit. In the meantime, you might consider one of the previously mentioned not-so-high speed options until they get to you.Good luck with the move and your search!