PROVIDENCE – Verizon has begun to deploy its advanced “fiber-to-the-premises” (FTTP) network in Rhode Island, which will allow it to offer consumers and businesses the fastest data speeds available as well as “crystal-clear” voice and video services, the company said.
Verizon is also opening a new Fiber Solutions Center in Providence to support customers of broadband products, creating up to 150 new jobs this year, according to a news release. Eventually, the center could employ up to 350 people, Verizon said.
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The company announced its actions at a news conference with state and city officials. The FTTP network deployment is starting in North Kingstown and Warwick, the company said, and will expand to additional communities in the state over the next 18 months.
Verizon has been building its FTTP network in parts of nine other states since last year. The new technology uses a fiber-optic link to directly connect a home or business to the Verizon network, replacing the copper-wire technology used for DSL service.
Though the company did not mention any of its competitors, the new network is clearly also meant to make Verizon more competitive with Cox Communications, which controls Rhode Island’s cable market, has taken a cut of Verizon’s phone clientele, and provides high-speed Internet service that is much faster than Verizon’s DSL.
“Verizon’s fully fiber-optic network is technically superior to other communication platforms because it offers supreme reliability and the fastest data speeds possible – while also setting the stage for us to provide video services,” Cheryl Mongell, Verizon market area president for operations in New England, said in the news release. “Our fiber engineering creates a network that requires less day-to-day maintenance, and repairs can be provisioned and completed more quickly.”
The new Fiber Solutions Center will be at 234 Washington St., in a space now used by Verizon for offices and to house switching equipment. Employees in the new center will handle calls from customers who buy new fiber-optic products, answering technical questions, assisting customers in troubleshooting, and remotely diagnosing and correcting problems.
Verizon last year began selling the so-called “FiOS” broadband Internet access services to consumers served by its new FTTP network in parts of California, Florida, and Texas.
The company has begun building an FTTP network in six East Coast states as well as Rhode Island, and plans to begin general marketing of FiOS products in those states later this year. Verizon will notify customers when FiOS products are available.
Verizon also plans to offer video services over FTTP, and introduce its first video products in some locations later this year.
FiOS services offer Internet access at speeds of up to 5, 15 and 30 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream, and up to 2 Mbps upstream for the 5 and 15 Mbps products and 5 Mbps upstream for the 30 Mbps product. Since sales began last August in Keller, Texas, the number of Verizon broadband customers in that market has doubled.
Verizon began building its FTTP network in Keller last May and then expanded elsewhere. The company expects overall to hire approximately 3,000 to 5,000 new employees by the end of this year to help build the network.
Verizon will begin advertising for the new jobs over the next several weeks. People interested in applying can also visit Verizon’s Web site at http://www.verizon.com/fiberjobs.
Verizon provides wireline telecommunications services – including broadband, nationwide long-distance and other services – to customers in 29 states. Verizon Wireless serves 42.1 voice and data customers across the United States. Verizon Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services, and an international unit provides wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe.
