Gigabit road sign

Comcast and AT&T, two of the major cable, Internet and telephone companies serving Huntsville now, aren't ceding anything to Google Fiber. They say they're getting ultra-fast, too, and they'll be competitive.

The third major Internet provider in town - WOW! Internet Cable and Phone - could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Google Fiber said Monday it will bring its ultra-high speed Internet and TV service to Huntsville starting in 2017. That means up to 1 gigabit speeds for Internet downloads and uploads.

The news generated space-launch excitement with Mayor Tommy Battle announcing Google Fiber's arrival standing under the Saturn V rocket at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Comcast and AT&T were listening, too, and here's what they have to say.

AT&T

"In December we announced plans to launch Internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second to homes, apartments and small businesses in the Huntsville area over our 100% fiber AT&T GigaPower network. It's great to see others following our lead.

"On average, it takes us less than a year from the time we announce AT&T GigaPower plans for a new metro to when we are installing service for our customers.

"We're well on our way to making our ultra-fast Internet services available in parts of the Huntsville area later this year."

COMCAST

"Comcast offers the fastest speeds to the most homes, across the entire metro area. Nobody else is delivering the capacity and speed we do on a widespread basis across Huntsville.

"Nationally, we just announced a 1-gig product that will use the lines that already go into most homes and businesses and make gigabit speeds much more widely available. Timing for Huntsville is TBD, but our goal is to roll out the service nationwide beginning in 2016.

"Because this new network technology allows consumers to receive gigabit Internet speeds over an existing connection, it has the potential to make ultra-fast speeds available more widely than fiber-to-the-home services, which typically require new construction and specialized installations."