AT&T Inc. announced the availability of its new satellite-based broadband Internet access service – previously announced by the company, although now including more details – as delivering a new service option to millions of rural homes and businesses where DSL and cable services are not offered today.
The new satellite-based broadband service, called AT&T High-Speed Internet Access, powered by WildBlue, is available to customers in many rural and remote areas across the company’s traditional 13-state local residential service area. The new offering furthers AT&T’s goal to expand the reach of broadband Internet access, and the services it enables, to 100 percent of homes and businesses in its traditional local service territory.
“Broadband access to the Internet is no longer a luxury, it is a vital need for most households and businesses today,” said Jim Callaway, senior executive vice president for AT&T Business Development. “Satellite technology provides a viable broadband option for areas that cannot be effectively served by DSL or cable, enabling AT&T to offer services in areas that have had few or no options previously. Our efforts to expand the reach of broadband will enable many of our rural customers to take full advantage of online business, educational and communications tools for the very first time.”
Rural satellite-based broadband subscribers will have three service packages to choose from, with prices ranging from $49.95 to $79.95 per month, and broadband speed options ranging up to 1.5mbps downstream and up to 256kbps upstream. AT&T satellite-based broadband customers will have direct access to the public Yahoo! portal, which will be set as customers default Internet home page.
The satellite-based broadband offering is delivered via an operating agreement with the satellite high-speed Internet provider WildBlue. The new satellite offering is part of an overall effort by AT&T to evaluate and develop new broadband technologies to serve its business and residential customers.
AT&T Inc. www.att.com
