Fiber: Believe It When You See It?

Joseph Laszlo | July 19, 2004, 10:32 AM

After a decade or more of exciting announcements from the RBOCs, that proceed to go nowhere ("Project Pronto," anyone?) we who watch the industry have grown more than a little skeptical when yet another press release rolls out on the wonders of fiber to the home/premises/curb/heck, anywhere.

But Verizon's at it again, digging up the streets (see photo, from Verizon's press kit--nothing says high-tech like men in a ditch)

From their release, here's Verizon's plans for further deployments:

" * In California, Verizon plans to pass about 100,000 homes and
businesses with FTTP technology in the Huntington Beach area and in
other parts of Southern California.
* In Florida, Verizon plans to pass about 100,000 homes and businesses
with FTTP technology in the Tampa area and parts of Hillsborough
County.
* In Texas, Verizon plans to pass 100,000 homes in part of the Dallas-
Fort Worth metroplex, including Keller, which was announced by the
company in May.

Verizon intends to pass 1 million homes and businesses in parts of nine
states with fiber by the end of the year."

It would be great if they did; but I'm not holding my breath.

The other thing I wonder about is, what's with Verizon and odd, made-up, Japanese-style names? I mean, you've got "iobi" for unified communications, and now "Fios" (pronounced "FYE-os") for fiber optic services. As a rule of thumb, you're in trouble when your new product name requires a pronunciation guide.

Then again, when you're company's named Verizon, perhaps you feel free to make up any crazy name you please for your products.

Crazy name or not, Fios, if Verizon follows through, will shake up the US broadband industry in exactly the way it's needed to be shaken:

" Maximum connection speeds and pricing for Fios consumer services are:
* 5 Mbps/2 Mbps for $34.95 a month as part of a calling package, or
$39.95 a month stand-alone
* 15 Mbps/2 Mbps for $44.95 a month as part of a calling package, or
$49.95 a month stand-alone
* 30 Mbps/5 Mbps at pricing to be announced later"

And video over Fios sometime next year. (I'm sure vendors are falling all over themselves to get in on that deal...)

The Broadband Reports reaction is a mix of skepticism and "man, I wish I lived in Keller." Um, maybe...