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Topic: Storage

Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

Summary: Verizon FiOS has launched a new speed tier with 150 megabits per second downstream and 35 megabits up. What would you do with that speed?

Larry Dignan

By for Between the Lines |

A little fiber optic cable with a lot of speed.

Verizon FiOS has launched a new speed tier with 150 megabits per second downstream and 35 megabits up.

Now I'm not quite sure what I'd do with all that horsepower, but I'll take it. Fortunately, I can at least realistically ponder it. In a blog post, Verizon did a little chest thumping. GigaOm's Stacey Higginbotham mourned since she's stuck in the first generation DOCIS world. Since I have the FiOS fiber pumping into my house, I'm glad the option is there.

When I had FiOS installed, I talked a long time with the tech during my installation in 2007 (gallery). For Verizon, it's all about future proofing. Comcast and Cablevision can talk about network upgrades and Verizon can flip a switch and match or beat it. It's pretty powerful stuff.

Will I get 150/35 Mbps service? Probably not now, but the possibilities are interesting once pricing comes down (it's $194.99 a month with voice service). FiOS is looking to corner Comcast and Cablevisions. Download speeds on FiOS are going to be 50 percent faster. Verizon claims a 200 percent advantage over Time Warner Cable.

Verizon said "the majority of our FiOS-eligible residential customers get first crack at the new super speed offer, and we’ll start selling it to our small business customers by the end of the year."

The possibilities for FiOS' new tier are notable. Verizon touted high-def movie downloads, but things like easier cloud backup service (it takes forever to upload and download) may be more of a sell for the techies in the house.

A final note: Verizon said its new speeds change broadband in America. The reality is that Verizon doesn't have the market coverage to do it. Verizon has 3.3 million FiOS Internet subscribers.

Topics: Storage, Data Management, Verizon

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13 comments
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  • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

    larry -

    I'm a few miles south of you; Verizon sends me mail a few times a week, to both my home and business, touting the switch to FIOS.

    When I got tired of Comcast services a few months back, I contacted Verizon. they offered me a whole lot of services at a good prices. Then told me it would be the best they could offer would be 7Mb DSL and no television services for the foreseeable future. This was despite the fact that every one of their targeted ads and letters was for FIOS.

    I'm not holding my breath waiting for them to deliver anything. In fact, I no longer even get household phone service through them.
    David Chernicoff
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

      @David Chernicoff im a former fios customer from my prev residence. i now have the same problem at my new residence. i receive countless verizon fios ads without any service availbility. its definitely frustrating especially since i can attest to the fact that fios' service and hardware is superior to that of comcast.
      empilder
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

        @empilder thanks for the input. I have FiOS over comcast, but didn't realize the coverage was so area specific.
        Larry Dignan
        Reply Vote

  • What Verizon FiOS?

    We've been waiting over three years for Verizon FiOS. We still can't get it.

    Verizon totally ignored the three largest upper middle class suburbs in our area, opting instead to install FiOS in the smallest and lowest income apartment complex within 2 miles of us.

    If anyone can explain this utter stupidity, I'd love to hear it.
    Cardhu
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

      @Cardhu wait... how is this stupid. apartment complexes provide large numbers of ppl per square mile. reduced dispersion of infrastructure. and pretty reliable ROI. especially since they enter contracts with communities that basically makes them a monopoly in complexes (on some occassions).

      there are many upsides to installing it in middle to upper class suburban areas but i think you may be overlooking the business value of installing it in lower income areas.
      empilder
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

      @Cardhu - My husband sells FIOS and advises that Verizon is required to do a certain number of low-income installations. Susieq2
      psbailey@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

    There are also sometimes town regulations that hamper FIOS adoption; I had to go to a town hearing in my town to lobby to get it approved a few years ago.
    subs@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

    My Daughter is currently awaiting FIOS but there's a fair amount of road construction near her home and Verizon won't begin the FIOS install until the construction is finished. At the price noted in this article I'll stick with my current FIOS speed. :-)
    sckenney@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

    I wonder if those speeds come with the infamous "up to" in front of them? The only thing keeping me from FIOS is the WAP credit small print! Its true, even when I lived in Tampa, the first areas with even Time Warner were near and in housing projects! We live in a "ratty" area here in Bradenton, Fl and have both FIOS and Time Warner available. Why? I don't know.
    athenroy
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

    All people of all races, including illegals, and all income levels must have "equal access" to Verizon FIOS at 150/35 Mbps even if all can't afford it. We don't want anybody "under-represented" do we? As long as those rich folks can pay, we should all have equal access at subsidized prices. Besides, high speed Internet is a "human rights" issue, just like flat screen TVs and unaffordable mortgages. This Socialism is really getting good!
    Annoneemous
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

      @Annoneemous

      Go bake some Troll House cookies, leave the off topic political baiting in your diaper bag, and leave the intelligent discussion to the adults.
      colinnwn
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

    150/35 is pointless. My Charter Internet speed was recently upgraded from 8 to 16Mbs and I can't tell the difference. Are there any services out there that actually use even 8Mbs?
    philip.robar@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon FiOS: 150/35 Mbps tier launched; I'll take it (eventually)

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    birumut
    Reply Vote
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