CenturyLink takes on Charter by providing 1 Gbps FTTP service to La Crosse, Wis.

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is providing a new competitive challenge to local cable operator Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) by launching its 1 Gbps fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) service for residential and SMBs in La Crosse, Wis.  

The service is competitively priced. Eligible residential customers will be able to purchase the 1 Gbps service for $79.95 if they agree to a 12-month contract and if they bundle it with other CenturyLink service such as its Prism TV service.

Jim Hill, La Crosse Area Development Corporation, said that the debut of the 1 Gbps service could make the community more attractive to residents and existing and new businesses that want to locate in La Crosse.

"We hope this investment by CenturyLink helps connect families and businesses, and creates new innovation in our community," Hill said in a release.

By comparison, Charter currently provides 100 Mbps service over its existing HFC network.

CenturyLink offers 1 Gbps service in Platteville, Wis., as well as in 16 additional cities across the country. Among some other cities where it has recently debuted 1 Gbps service are Denver and Salt Lake City. In Utah, the service provider recently hatched plans to expand its 1 Gbps FTTP service by bringing it to 505 new multi-unit housing developments this year.  

For more:
- see the release

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Related articles:
CenturyLink says 1 Gig has great potential for schools, telecommuters
CenturyLink plans to equip 505 Utah housing developments with FTTH
CenturyLink expands IPTV service in Denver
Google Fiber takes on CenturyLink, Comcast in Salt Lake City with 1 Gbps service

This story was updated on April 17 to reflect the fact that TDS does not compete with CenturyLink in Lacrosse, Wis.