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Frontier Communications is ready to deliver some customers faster DSL speeds in portions of West Virginia that have, until now, been stuck with 3-6Mbps from the phone company.
Residential and business customers in certain exchanges within Kanawha and Putnam counties can now upgrade to speeds up to 25Mbps for $54.99 a month, which Frontier claims also includes a combination modem-wireless router. Small business customers can get up to 40Mbps DSL service, where available.
Dana Waldo, senior vice president and general manager for Frontier’s operations in the state told the Charleston Daily Mail the company’s new Broadband Ultra and Ultimate DSL will be gradually extended within both counties by the end of this year. In order to sell faster DSL service, Frontier has to replace portions of its existing network with fiber optics and install new equipment to reduce the length of copper wire between the phone company and the customer.
Larger businesses in West Virginia are being marketed an even faster Metro Ethernet product, which can deliver gigabit speeds and beyond, for an exceptional amount of money.
The speed expansion, which covers both the city of Charleston and the growing suburbs to the west in Putnam County along Interstate 64 towards Huntington, is likely designed to curb customer defections to competing cable providers, which have delivered faster speeds in the rapidly growing region.
Frontier has not indicated when it plans faster broadband service for the rest of the state.
Other stories of interest:
- Frontier Boosting Speeds in Select Areas; Premium Customers Win No Modem Rental Fee
- Ex-Verizon Customers: Beware of Frontier “Upgrades” That Bring Slower Speeds
- Frontier’s Wilderotter Claims W.V. Among Top-5 Broadband States; Facts Say Otherwise
- Exclusive: Frontier Communications Has Plans for AT&T U-verse for Landline Customers
- West Virginia Contractor Says Frontier Owes $1.6 Million, Forced to Lay Off 50+ Workers
Sweet price! However, are these speeds actually delivered to customers?
I had a flyer from Frontier on my door knob when I arrived home from work today. My area has apparently been upgraded.(I live in West Webster, NY. ) I have been invited to a demonstration of the new speed that is to be held right around the corner from me next Wednesday afternoon. This is the first time that they have set up any sort of neighborhood demonstration in my area. Seems that they really wish to showcase their products.
The flyer says that a one year commitment is required for service.
$57.99 a month for phone and internet up to 6 Mbps
$67.99 a month for phone and internet up to 12 Mbps
$77.99 a month for phone and internet up to 25 Mbps
I have no desire for phone service from anyone. I am curious about any offers they might have that does not include the phone. I will attend the demonstration next Wednesday and hopefully get some questions answered.
I received a generic letter in the mail from Frontier over the weekend advertising the new speeds, but no doorknob flyer. Frontier does pitch broadband-only service, so the Internet-only 25Mbps tier is supposed to run $54.99 before taxes and fees. But those add-ons really add up.
I have prepared a list of about 7 questions for this coming Wednesday when I attend this demonstration. What has concerned me about Frontier right along is their somewhat deceiving business practices and the taxes and fees that are piled on top of the bill. That $54.95 price will probably turn into $70 once modem fees and taxes are added on. This brings me to one of my questions for them.. Tell me the bottom line. The whole price. Secondly they must be able to guarantee some things…such as what speed will I indeed see considering that I am a quarter of a mile away from the DSLAM. I will report back here what I am told and also in a post in that thread at DSLReports.
Well I met with three folks from Frontier today at their neighborhood display they set up. I was assured that they were working hard on upgrading their equipment and that they were progressively turning up the speed on their remotes at locations all around this area. I asked about the stand alone internet product and was told that 12/2 service would be $49.95 a month with no separate modem charges. I was also told that their would be no extra taxes on top of the monthly charge since this service would not include phone service. They are going to have one of their sales reps call me to discuss all of the particulars, but this does not mean that I am going to take the plunge and order the service. I was also told that I would have one month to evaluate the service.
Seeing that I am a quarter mile from the DSLAM I was assured that I would see very close to the advertised speed and that congestion problems that I saw a few years ago were a thing of the past.