EPB, the city-owned broadband provider, has launched a new 2.5-gig residential internet service, expanding its symmetrical speed offerings on the fiber optic network. Priced at $97.99 per month, the 2.5-gig service comes with the installation of EPB’s Wi-Fi 6e router and is available across the service area. VP Katie Espeseth emphasized EPB’s commitment to diversifying network options, with an eye on providing service up to 25-gig.
“High bandwidth applications are here to stay,” Espeseth declared in a company announcement, highlighting the evolving needs of internet users. EPB has a history of innovation in Chattanooga, starting with the introduction of 1 Gbps service in 2010, followed by a 10-gig offering in 2015. In 2022, EPB unveiled its 25-gig service, positioning itself as the first provider in the country to offer such high-speed internet community-wide, albeit at a premium price of $1,500 per month.
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly acknowledged EPB’s pivotal role in enhancing broadband access, noting the city’s strategic location as a key node for fiber in the eastern U.S. However, as EPB continues to push the envelope with multi-gig connectivity, competitors are catching up. Google Fiber recently announced plans for a symmetrical 20-gig service, leveraging Nokia’s 25G-PON system, in a bid to match EPB’s offerings.
In addition to its internet services, EPB has been making strides in quantum networking. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) recently became the first academic institution connected to EPB’s Quantum Network, solidifying its status as the only university in the country with access to a managed, commercial quantum network. EPB’s Quantum Network, launched in 2022, enables developers to lease parts of the network for testing nascent quantum technologies.
EPB is not only focusing on its in-house quantum developments but is also collaborating with Qunnect, a commercial quantum networking company, to test interoperability between their respective technologies. The goal is to demonstrate that networking hardware components from different companies can work seamlessly together, a crucial step in commercializing quantum networks in the United States.
