Verizon Announces Fiber Optic Internet Service for Medford and Marlton
Company's Transformational Technology to Benefit Residential and Business
Customers, Boost Economic Development
NEWARK, N.J. - Verizon is bringing to 24 New Jersey communities one of the
most significant advancements in telecommunications technology in the past 100
years.
The company today announced it is rolling out a fiber-optic network that will
deliver faster data speeds and crystal clear voice to residence and business
customers. This transformational upgrade to Verizon's network also has the
capability to offer a full suite of video services. Verizon had suspended the
project a year ago because of an adverse regulatory climate in New Jersey, a
situation that is improving.
The 24 communities where the project is underway are: Allendale, Alpine,
Closter, Demarest, Franklin Lakes, Harrington Park, Mahwah, Northvale, Norwood,
Oakland, Old Tappan, Ramsey, Rockleigh, Westwood and Wyckoff in Bergen County;
the city of Passaic; Ewing, Lawrence and Pennington in Mercer County; Mendham
Township and Rockaway Boro in Morris County; Tinton Falls in Monmouth County and
Evesham and Medford in Burlington County.
Acting Governor Richard J. Codey welcomed Verizon's FTTP efforts.
"Verizon's decision to build its fiber-optic network in our state is a win for
all of New Jersey," Codey said. "This investment will not only improve existing
services for New Jersey's businesses and residents, it will also create new jobs
and new opportunities for the state.
"It is important that New Jersey has the latest available technology
infrastructure so that we stay competitively strong. We look forward to working
with Verizon to expand the uses of this technology to benefit other areas within
the state."
Today's announcement comes about a year after the company suspended its
fiber-to-the premises ( FTTP ) deployment plans for New Jersey because the
regulatory environment in the state did not compare favorably with the other
states competing for significant new investment. But Verizon New Jersey
President Dennis Bone said things are beginning to change.
"We have always said that New Jersey is a great market, and we want to offer
this transformational technology here," he said.
"In the past year, there have been signs that the overall investment climate in
our state has been improving," he said. "The new administration and key state
leaders have shown a clear interest in improving our state's competitiveness by
fostering more infrastructure investment and economic development. Their
willingness to listen and their encouragement have given us the confidence to
proceed with building this communications network of the future."
FTTP uses hair-thin strands of fiber and optical electronics to directly link
homes and businesses to Verizon's network. The state-of-the-art network upgrade
will unleash a range of advanced communication services.
Verizon's all-fiber system is capable of carrying a competitive choice to the
existing cable television providers. The company will seek a franchise agreement
before offering cable television service in a selected community.
Although the use of fiber optics is common for long-distance and inter-city
communications throughout the telecommunications industry, Verizon is one of the
first major telecom companies to begin using it to directly connect homes and
businesses to the network on a widespread scale.
Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney is seeing first-hand the placement of
fiber optics in his area. "I'm pleased that Bergen was one of the first places
to receive Verizon's fiber optic technology," he said. "This will make it easier
for our residents to enjoy the benefits of ultra-high speed Internet access and
eventually the next generation of cable television services."
Today's announcement brings to14 the number of states where Verizon has begun
building its FTTP network. Other states are California, Delaware, Florida,
Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia. To help build the network across the country,
Verizon will hire between 3,000 and 5,000 new employees, including hundreds in
New Jersey.
Fiber offers tremendous advantages to network operators, in addition to new and
superior services for customers. For example, fiber offers reliable service in
stretches of wet weather that can affect copper-based networks and coaxial cable
systems.
"Verizon's fully fiber-optic network is technically superior to other
communication platforms because it offers faster data speeds than those
currently available, as well as voice and video capability," said William Foshay,
Verizon market area president. "Our fiber engineering creates a network that
requires less day-to-day maintenance and allows for proactive and even faster
repairs."
Customer reaction to Verizon's new fiber-based Internet access service, called
FiOS ( FYE'-ose ), has been very positive, with broadband subscribers more than
doubling in the company's inaugural FiOS market of Keller, Texas, just outside
Dallas/Fort Worth. Verizon will notify customers when FiOS is available locally.
"FiOS has been an extraordinary hit with our first customers. People are
literally lining up to get what they know is a fantastic and even more reliable
service at an excellent price," said Foshay. "The need for speed and ability to
take advantage of bandwidth-intensive applications remain a top priority for all
computer users."
There are three tiers of Verizon FiOS Internet Service for consumers, with
downstream ( download ) speeds of up to 5, 15 and 30 Mbps ( megabits per second
).*
Up to 5 Mbps ( megabits per second ) downstream and 2 Mbps upstream. Suited for
Internet surfing and basic computer functions. $34.95 a month as part of a
calling package, or $39.95 a month stand-alone.
Up to 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream. Appealing to families that have
multiple computers and various needs such as media downloads and the ability to
access or share large files. $44.95 a month as part of a calling package, or
$49.95 a month stand-alone.
Up to 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream. Designed for
communications-intensive power users with significant bandwidth needs, such as
telecommuters or work-at-home households and avid online gamers. $179.95 a month
as part of a calling package, or $199.95 a month stand-alone.
The FTTP initiative represents a natural extension of the more than 10 million
miles of fiber-optic cable Verizon already has in place and extends the high
capacity, speed and quality of fiber directly to the customer's doorstep. With
FTTP technology, Verizon can easily add more capacity, higher speeds or future
video services.
Verizon's digital subscriber line ( DSL ) service will remain the company's most
widely available form of high-speed Internet access for the foreseeable future
while the company ramps up FTTP deployment. The company offers DSL on a
widespread basis in New Jersey.
With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (
NYSE:VZ ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services.
Verizon has a diverse work force of more than 210,000 in four business units:
Domestic Telecom serves customers based in 29 states with wireline
telecommunications services, including broadband, nationwide long-distance and
other services. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable
wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data customers across the
United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and
provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and
wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For
more information, visit
www.verizon.com.
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*NOTE: Actual ( throughput ) speeds will vary.
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