US operator AT&T is aiming to steal a march on Google with the announcement that it will roll out a fibre network in the city of Austin, Texas this year, promising speeds of up to 1Gbps. The city is also the next urban metropolitan area in line for Google’s Fiber treatment, following the firm’s high speed fibre deployment in Kansas.

AT&T said its service should be live in the city in December this year, while Google has announced that it hopes to have its Fiber service to its first customers in Austin by the middle of 2014. It is also looking to deploy fiber in the town of Provo, Utah, after it deployed the 1Gbps service in Kansas City earlier this year.

AT&T said that its service will initially reach tens of thousands of customer locations throughout Austin and the surrounding areas before the end of this year, with additional local expansion planned in 2014 to reach more neighbourhoods and businesses.

“Austin embodies innovation and social consciousness, and is the heart of a vibrant, ever-evolving tech culture and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Dave Nichols, president at AT&T Texas.  “With our all-fiber U-verse services, we are building the foundation for a new wave of innovation for Austin’s consumers, businesses, and civic and educational institutions.  It’s about engaging the full community and empowering the city and its people with all that technology can offer us. This investment will help attract new business and new jobs to Austin.”

AT&T also announced the creation of a new executive position to lead its U-verse with GigaPowerSM initiative. Dahna Hull has been appointed vice president and general manager, Austin at AT&T Services.

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