Verizon Launches New Top-Tier ‘Quantum Internet’ Service

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2013 — Last Monday, Verizon announced that it would release a new high speed FiOS Quantum Internet service, providing download speeds of 500 megabits-per-second and upload speeds of 100 Mbps.

The new speeds are a drastic improvement on most other connections, allowing large files to be sent as easily as a simple email. The new higher speed is being developed partially in anticipation of the growing number of internet-using devices in the home. According to Verizon’s release on the new service, the average home with two teenagers will contain 50 internet-connected devices by 2022. Without such high speeds, this “internet of things” will not have sufficient bandwidth for adequate performance.

The new 500 Mbps service is also meant to benefit businesses, which are increasingly reliant on data-heavy transfers of videos, advertisements and images, in addition to teleconferencing and other applications that require high bandwidth.

This service is currently available in certain parts of all FiOS markets, but Verizon plans to extend deployment of the service into the entirety of its FiOS footprint in 2014.

Residential customers can get the 500 Mbps service bundled with Verizon’s television service for $309.99 per month, much higher than Google’s gigabit fiber in Kansas City, which is priced at $70 per month. However, Verizon has expressed willingness to alter the price based on market forces.

“We’ll closely monitor the response from consumers regarding take rates and adjust as needed,” Ellen Yu, Media Relations Manager for Verizon, said.