AT&T increases Internet speeds in parts of Central Valley

BAKERSFIELD

December 7, 2015

•  Expands its gigabit service

•  Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento to see faster speeds

AT&T says it’s bringing its fastest Internet service to Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento in the Central Valley.

The three Valley metros are part of 38 additional metros across the United States getting the service, bring to 56 the number of urban areas served nationwide, the carrier says.

The service will offer Internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second over the AT&T “GigaPower” network. At top speed, says AT&T, 25 songs can be downloaded in less than a second, a TV show in three seconds or an HD movie in less than 36 seconds.

"Bringing AT&T ‘GigaPower’ to the greater Bakersfield area is big for residents and businesses throughout the region, and is yet another example of the continued investment and innovation AT&T brings to our customers in California," says Ken McNeely, president of AT&T California.

AT&T says plans call for rolling out its fastest Internet services over a 100 percent fiber network to reach more than 14 million residential and commercial locations.

"We appreciate AT&T's commitment to Fresno as a hub for innovation and commerce," says Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. "AT&T GigaPower will help drive Fresno's economic growth because it gives our residents and businesses the tools they need to thrive and compete in the global marketplace."

Fresno County Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Lee Ann Eager says high-speed Internet is essential to business expansion, attraction, and retention for the Central Valley.

Sacramento is also listed as a city to get AT&T’s highest Internet speeds, but cities between Sacramento and Fresno are not on any public list to get the service.

"As Sacramento becomes a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology, our residents and businesses need to have access to high speed Internet," says Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

AT&T says it has invested nearly $7.4 billion in its wireless and wired networks in California between 2012 through 2014, driving a wide range of upgrades to reliability, coverage, speed and performance for residents and business customers.

http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=29569