Consolidated Communications Brings Gigabit to Second Market

I could see them 'winning back' customers who don't want to pay for full Gbit from Google Fiber but CCI doesn't really offer near a Gbit. It's really about 500M or less in real world performance from what I've seen (compared to 900M+ for GF). Since GF doesn't offer a middle tier package, that is where CCI (and other ISPs) can compete, as well as fact that GF doesn't offer AMC or phone.

Is curious that Google Fiber shows no signs of offering a middle tier bundle. Is an indication they are satisfied with uptake rate they are getting. If they offered 300M for less, I'd probably go for it - but they also want a Gbit install base and few would do Gbit if 100-300 offered.

BTW, CCI has about 20K customers in KC with footprint of about 100K households. GF plans to cover around 500K KC metro households (overlapping nearly all CCI footprint eventually) but so far there is very little overlap where CCI offers a Gbit.

Yes, ~500 or so down, but regularly above 800 or even 900 up. I also greatly prefer their (relative lack of) CPE, but that's not going to sway many potential customers.

The lower tier speeds also have a pretty good 2 year deal but very pricey after that. For those in KC waiting for GF, CCI is good option until then.

»www.surewest.com/interne ··· d-kc.php

Plans, plans and plans with no real numbers of households nor customers from GOOG

Consolidated reportedly uses GPON. That might explain the lackluster performance. Real world performance for Gigabit over GPON hasn't proven to be all that great. Especially if they are using 32 splits.

Outside Google Fiber, all of the other Gbit ISPs seem to struggle to get over 900M outside local network.

- GF gets 900M+ local and to the coasts, even over 700M to London

- ATT Gigapower, CenteryLink, EPB can get 900 locally but often half or less that across county. Maybe peering issues.

- CCI struggles to get 500M even locally (download), might be more to it. CCI has a good 2 year deal on all tiers though and under $70 for 500M still not bad.

Using CCI's internal speedtest, I achieve over 950mbps both directions, so I don't believe CCI's throughput problems are last mile.

And what does GF use? WDM-PON ?

Yes, or supposedly some custom hybrid of it. A GF engineer told me network is designed to sustain at least 800M under heaviest neighborhood loads. I'm in one of denser areas of KC (Plaza - many hirise residential) and see 900M+ any time of day, including prime time.

From their CCI "Live the Gig" page(where monthly CCI 1 Gig charge is $69.95 with no construction or installation fees):

"1) We will offer 1 Gig to anyone who wants it and qualifies."

If I lived in any CCI area, I would be on the phone just to see if they would install fiber for me.

I guess that that "qualifies" word would cover a lot of situations so that CCI would not have to install 1 Gig Fiber for you.

Reference URL »www.consolidated.com/livethegig/

If you have a gigabit connection that's working at rated speed, what possible changes do folks make? More/different static IPs? A redundant line? What?

why mess with a symmetric gigabit for $70 a month,
unless you can get 500/500 meg for $35?

It does not matter how many gigs a provider offers if the service is often down. Tuesday night I had 5gigs download and the upload speed test wouldn't even start. Wed. morning I had no data, voice or video. It has been more than 24 hours with nothing but a recording on 913 customer service saying they are experiencing voice and data outages. Not a good idea to open up new gig market until the existing installations work. Can bever count on phone or tv to work either. TWC, ATT and Google Fiber all options in Brookside neighborhood, all of them bad. 20 year Everest, Sure West, Con Comm customer

They use a active Ethernet network. Otherwise noted a dedicated line to to premise. No sharing of bandwidth.