The Texas co-op turns up a gigabit-ready network that passes 43,000 potential customers.

Jason Meyers, Executive Editor

September 29, 2014

2 Min Read
GVTC Beats Gig Giants to San Antonio Area

Telecom co-op GVTC Communications has turned up its gigabit fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in the San Antonio area, making it first to market in a region coveted by several larger operators.

GVTC announced earlier this year that it would turn up gigabit speeds on its network in the territory north of San Antonio. The service is now available to 43,000 potential customers across a 2,200 square mile area that includes parts of Far North San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country and the Gonzales area. The operator is deploying service in its GigaRegion through private-public partnerships with the cities of Boerne, Bulverde and Gonzales.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Google Fiber Inc. and Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) have all voiced their intentions to deploy gigabit services in and around San Antonio, but none of them have specified a timeframe for the region.

Get the latest updates on the Gigabit Cities trend by visiting Light Reading's broadband/FTTx content channel.

GVTC is one of an increasing number of smaller regional providers, and municipalities and municipally owned utilities that are delivering on gigabit network deployments in and around regions targeted by much larger entities, which could make the bigger operators' gigabit introductions into those territories more challenging. GVTC President and CEO Ritchie Sorrells told Light Reading in August that the operator's gigabit network upgrade is the result of a effort started 10 years ago to help the one-time landline voice-focused provider remain viable in the long term. (See GVTC Eyes a Gigabit Future and North KC Says Free Gigabit for All.)

GVTC's gigabit service is available to residential customers for $299.95/month. The operator also introduced a 200Mbit/s offering for $199.95/month. GVTC is also providing its Remote Computer Support product to customers that sign up for either tier of service.

— Jason Meyers, Senior Editor, Utility Communications/IoT, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Jason Meyers

Executive Editor

Jason Meyers joined the editorial staff of Light Reading in 2014 with more than 20 years of experience covering a broad range of business sectors. He is responsible for tracking and reporting on developments in the Internet of Things (IoT), Gigabit Cities and utility communications areas. He previously was Executive Editor of Entrepreneur magazine, overseeing all editorial operations, assignments and editorial staff for the monthly business publication. Prior to that, Meyers spent 15 years on the editorial staff of the former Telephony magazine, including eight years as Editor in Chief.

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