Cox Communications has expanded Gigablast, its 1-Gig residential broadband service, to several properties in downtown Providence, marking the service’s entry into Rhode Island.
Gigablast, currently offered by Cox via fiber-to-the-premises technology, has been rolled out to Cox subs living in the Foundry's Sharpe building (25 Holden Street), and will be offered soon in the Peerless (150 Union Street) and Kinsley buildings (334 Westminster Street), the MSO said, noting that 1-Gig will also launch to three additional Cornish Associates-owned properties downtown as customers move in.
Cox said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and local developers joined the operator in announcing gigabit Internet in the city during an event at the Westminster Lofts' Peerless building.
Cox has also launched Gigablast in parts of Phoenix; Las Vegas; Omaha; San Diego; Orange County; Baton Rouge; Hampton Roads, Va.; Northwest Arkansas; Wichita; Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The MSO is currently selling the 1-Gig service for $35 per month when bundled with other Cox services, or $99 per month as a standalone.
Cox is initially using FTTP to deliver gigabit speeds, but also has plans to use DOCSIS 3.1, an emerging multi-gigabit platform for HFC networks as Cox fulfills its plan to begin market- wide deployment of Gigabit services by the end of 2016.
"We are excited to be the first to offer gigabit speeds in Rhode Island," said Jay Allbaugh, senior vice president and region manager, Cox Communications. "Our latest investments and the deployment of the fastest speeds available are powering economic growth and development in the communities we serve."
"As we look to the future for Providence, it is important to leverage the latest technology to optimize our environment for residents and businesses," Elorza added. "The gigabit speeds available in these residential buildings are one more asset Providence can boast about to attract people to live, work and play here. Thank you to Cox, Cornish and the Foundry for partnering to enhance our city's offerings."
