AT&T Jumps Outside Its Traditional Footprint to Battle Verizon

So last August, AT&T made a very interesting but very overlooked announcement. The company stated that it would be offering broadband outside of its traditional broadband footprint in select markets. These efforts, AT&T noted, primarily involve using G.Fast technology to wire MDUs (Multi-Dwelling Units, aka apartments and condos), then connect to existing regional fiber lines. According to AT&T's original announcement, it planned to do this in 22 major metro markets, all outside of its traditional broadband footprint.

It's a notable push into competitors' territory that somehow was mostly overlooked.

This week, AT&T announced that Boston is now one of the markets where AT&T is pushing this new technology. According to AT&T the service is only being offered in just one apartment complex at the moment, but the company plans to quickly expand the offering in the coming months.

AT&T says users will receive speeds up to 500 Mbps, but did not specify pricing or whether there are usage caps (I'm awaiting a reply from the company).

"While other Internet companies are leaving the city, we’re finding new ways to connect Bostonians," said AT&T, referring to Google Fiber's decision to pull Webpass service from Boston after hyping the service's potential for much of last year.

"With Gfast we can connect more Boston area residents to information, entertainment and their community," AT&T added. "We’re committed to providing connectivity to MDU residents in Boston. And we’ll do it through Gfast and millimeter wave," AT&T added, suggesting that at least part of these deployments will rely on wireless backhaul and other emerging wireless technologies.

The move is of particular note because it brings AT&T into direct competition with Verizon's planned wireless and fiber expansion in the city, a modest expansion for what's been an otherwise frozen FiOS deployment. AT&T and Verizon traditionally work overtime to avoid competing on the fixed-line broadband front, though a battle with Verizon regarding serving first responder needs may have altered AT&T executives' thinking on this front slightly.

Boston is the second metro to get this treatment outside of AT&T's traditional 21-state home internet service area. Initially AT&T has stated it will offer this service in Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle and Tampa. After that, the company says it will offer the option to 14 additional markets including Albany, Washington DC, Omaha, Portland, and Cincinnati.

Update: AT&T offered me the following pricing details on this service: