Industry Experts Debate Need for Gigabit Internet Speeds as Deployment Accelerates
Industry experts debate whether gigabit internet deployment has outpaced actual consumer demand.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2025 — As fiber broadband deployment reaches record levels across the United States, industry experts discussed Wednesday whether consumers truly need gigabit internet speeds or if current infrastructure already exceeds everyday requirements.
During a Broadband Breakfast Live Online panel discussion, four telecommunications specialists presented diverging views on the urgency of ultra-high-speed connectivity, even as deployment statistics show rapid expansion of gigabit-capable networks.
Bob Whitman, Vice President of Market and Product Strategy at Corning Optical Communications, cited significant progress in fiber deployment. "Today, more than half the country, close to 80 million homes have a fiber provider in those communities," Whitman said. "About 15% of homes that have a fiber provider have a second fiber provider in their community."
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Jimmy Schaeffler
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