Comcast and AT&T are now promising gigabit-speed broadband service to much of Bloomington, but the way each internet service provider do so will be very different.
News of Comcast’s statewide Xfinity Gigabit service on Wednesday night came just hours before AT&T announced its Internet 1000 launch in Bloomington and other Indiana markets. While both companies look to elevate Bloomington to gigabit speeds, AT&T will use a 100 percent fiber system and Comcast will provide the same speeds over an existing system that’s a hybrid of fiber and coaxial cable.
Both announcements this week come at a time when the city of Bloomington is investigating a citywide fiber infrastructure through the Canadian company Axia.
“This is still a trial and we’re going to be watching this closely, but it’s something we’re already proud of because we’ve already tested this in other places,” said Mike Wilson, public relations director for Comcast in Indiana. Indiana is the fifth state to be included in the trial. “Geographically, this is a significant release because we don’t just do big towns. It’s the ubiquity aspect of it that I think is so great about this.”
Comcast characterized its gigabit services as fast enough to download a 5 gigabyte high definition movie in 40 seconds, a 15 gigabyte video game in 2 minutes, a 150 megabyte digital media player (MP3) album in less than 2 seconds and a 600 megabyte television episode in 4 seconds.
Wilson said an “absolute vast majority” of Bloomington residents can sign up now to begin the process of receiving the $139.95-per-month internet service. Wilson said preventive circumstances, such as a noncompliant building owner or exclusivity contracts with other carriers, will be where gaps in service may occur.