Last week, AT&T announced new initiatives to provide broadband Internet access to their previously under-served rural and inner-city markets. The initiatives include three components:
- Offering a satellite-based broadband service later this month in select rural markets in AT&T’s residential service territory, most of which are not served by landline broadband services today.
- Affirming the company’s intent to make its Project Lightspeed video services available — within three years — to more than 5.5 million low-income households as part of its initial build in 41 target markets, making them among the first in the nation to receive these new IP-enabled video services.
- Expanding the scope of the company’s market efforts related to WiMAX and other fixed wireless technologies. New deployments will begin later this year in Texas and Nevada, joining existing AT&T fixed wireless service offers in Alaska, Georgia and New Jersey.
I often cite widespread broadband Internet access as one of the reasons we’re living in such an entrepreneurial age. Whether it’s tapping into the global market via eBay, using Google to research and find suppliers, or instantly sending and receiving money with Paypal, doing business today is easier than ever before.
I spoke with AT&T Spokesperson Claudia Jones about their plans:
Who will benefit from this announcement and when can consumers and small businesses expect to see the positive effects of AT&T’s investment?
Satellite-based broadband Internet access service will be starting later this month in selected rural markets throughout AT&T’s traditional 13-state residential service territory, most of which are not served by DSL or cable broadband services today. New deployments of WiMAX and other fixed wireless technologies will begin later this year in Texas and Nevada, joining existing AT&T fixed wireless service offers and deployments in Alaska, Georgia and New Jersey.
Providing broadband Internet access to the previously under-served rural and inner-city market will have a dramatic impact on the opportunities available to small business entrepreneurs in these areas. How does AT&T expect this initiative to help make these small businesses more competitive?
Just about every business today relies on the Internet. Delivering high-speed broadband services helps people work more productively and efficiently — and helps a community in its evolution to a high-tech town. With a high-speed connection, residents and businesses are better able to compete by having high-speed access to the Internet. AT&T is affirming its intent to deliver the benefits of broadband and IP-based services as widely as possible to customers, including developing multiple alternative broadband technologies to provide new opportunities for customers in rural and remote areas.
By providing more of it’s rural and inter city markets with broadband Internet access, I think that AT&T will have a significant impact on the business opportunities available for entrepreneurs in these areas. Small businesses will undoubtedly take advantage of the new high speed Internet; combining the technologies with their unique ideas will create a small town renaissance.
Steve on December 2nd, 2006 at 10:40 am
There is a very reliable and inexpensive alternative for high speed access for those who live in the country. I use Skyway satelite internet service. They are only $139 for the equipment and I am paying $29 a month for 256k speed. They do have other options for higher speed, but the $29 plan works great for me. Their site is http://www.satellite4internet.com
It won’t hit you in the back pocket for high speed like others.