The RBOCs in past years were accused of moving in lockstep. That’s clearly no longer the case, and news from the two largest former Bell companies this week emphasized that point.
While wireless remains a key component for both companies, they have divergent strategies in terms of their wireline broadband residential plays. While AT&T Inc. (T) is slowing its IPTV/FTTN effort, U-verse, and focusing instead on wireless, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) seems committed to move full steam ahead with its FTTH-based FiOS services.
But even as these FiOS and U-verse efforts were announced by Verizon and AT&T, respectively, years ago, differences in these companies’ commitments to residential broadband and the services it would carry were clear. While Verizon opted to go all-out with a fiber-to-the-home network, ensuring it would have more than enough bandwidth to support future services for years to come, AT&T took the more conservative route, electing to use fiber-to-the-node technology.
