Gigapower Riding the Open Access Network

Private capital is opening fiber availability outside of traditional telecom models, with the Gigapower joint venture between AT&T and infrastructure investor Blackrock a prime example. Gigapower is focusing on an open access model that will initially pass 1.5 million homes nationwide and enable the network to be used and shared by multiple fiber-to-the-home service providers. The open access model will be built with XGS PON with upgrades possible to deliver 25G and beyond. An open access network model is capital efficient for internet service providers (ISPs) entering into new markets because they simply pay as they add subscribers; they don’t have the large upfront cost associated with building a dedicated network. Once subscribers are added, that’s when ISPs begin actually paying for services. Service providers can focus on marketing and customer service rather than planning, building, and operating the fiber network.AT&T will use the Gigapower network to offer fiber broadband services outside of its established territories, and CEO Bill Hogg expects other carriers, large and small, to do the same.