CenturyLink to roll out 1 Gbps service to homes in 6 more states, pursuing 700K target

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is amplifying its 1 Gbps service rollout with plans to bring the service to parts of six new states in its territory, enabling it to come closer to its goal to enable 700,000 homes by the end of the year.

The service provider is rolling out the 1 Gbps service in parts of Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, New Mexico, North Carolina and South Dakota.

Today, the service provider offers 1 Gbps Internet service to residential and small business customers in parts of 17 states.

As of the end of the second quarter, the service provider had connected 600,000 households in 16 markets to the 1 Gbps service.

Glen Post, CEO of CenturyLink, said during the earnings call that "in our GPON markets the take rates continue to be strong and are exceeding our expectations."

In tandem with the rollout of FTTH service, CenturyLink continues to bring its Prism IPTV service to markets where it has secured video franchise agreements.

One of the elements that will help make CenturyLink meet its goals will be new buildout strategies, including micro-trenching to lay fiber in existing, or Brownfield, areas.

Working with the University of Louisiana, the service provider has developed a new method to trench fiber underground into existing neighborhoods where it cuts a shallower-than-usual trench in the edge of a roadbed, deploying conduit and using a polymer seal over the top of it. The service provider, which is using this method in Seattle and Minnesota, said it will reduce fiber installation costs.

Besides micro-trenching, the service provider said it is leveraging existing utility poles so the company can deploy fiber aerially. By deploying fiber via existing utility poles, it has reduced the cost connect each home along the route to about $600. 

For more:
- see the release

Related articles:
CenturyLink accepts $500M in CAF II funds, plans to extend broadband to 1.2M rural households
CenturyLink is conducting 100 Mbps over copper trial in Salt Lake City
CenturyLink's Post: New credit policy will enhance consumer broadband growth, reduce churn