Hargray makes plans for rapid gigabit Internet service
Hargray Communications has plans to ramp up its Internet service for business, residences and public spaces in Beaufort County, which the company says would increase speeds to "100 times faster."
For example, the service would allow people to use multiple devices to stream high-definition video in a home, according to an Internet industry analyst, and it could lead to an increase in businesses interested in the area.
The service would cost extra if customers choose it, but Hargray's standard Internet service would cost the same for residents and businesses, company vice president of sales and marketing Gerrit Albert said. Nicole Gardner, program manager for Hargray's Lowcountry Broadband Plan, said the company does not know what the cost of the new gigabit service will be or when the service will be offered.
New York Times best-selling author and industry analyst Larry Downes said such service "can be expensive." But he doesn't know what that charge would be.
In 2013, The (Charleston) Post & Courier reported that Nexon in Summerville had become the first community in South Carolina to offer gigabit service. The residential service was priced at being less than $150 a month, the newspaper reported.
Hargray has received the support of various local government officials in its quest to provide the service in the county. Bluffton Town Council, Hilton Head Town Council and Beaufort County Council have endorsed Hargray's Lowcountry Community Broadband Plan.
The Beaufort City Council tabled the company's request until Tuesday's meeting, so it could be reviewed by the city attorney.
Gardner said Hargray has been asking for the local government support because the company wants public officials to recognize that the service would be good for the community. She would not give any more information about the gigabit service, but said the company would issue a news release in two to three weeks. She said not all of the fiber optics needed for the service are in place yet.
Albert said the drive to add the service was the result of customer and community demand.
"This framework was largely brought to us by citizens, by government officials, by, really, people that want to improve the telecommunications infrastructure in our region," he said.
Downes says gigabit service has boosted business in other areas of the country.
When Google first turned on gigabit Internet service in Kansas City, Mo., startup companies quickly moved to the city, and that has happened elsewhere, Downes said.
"(Gigabit service) really becomes a draw for startups and entrepreneurs who need that kind of capacity because they are building new software and apps and need to test them," Downes said.
Hilton Head Mayor David Bennett hoped the new service would boost the island's profile with visitors and businesses.
"In my view, this is something that will give Hilton Head an advantage over its competition," Bennett said.
Hargray is not alone in plans for the service.
Time Warner Cable already offers speeds up to 10 gigabits a second to businesses in the county and will eventually offer the faster service to residential customers, company spokesman Scott Pryzwansky said.
Pryzwansky said he could not give an estimated price for gigabit service.
Attempts to reach Comcast for comment were unsuccessful.
As the newer service continues to expand across the country, Downes said he sees interesting possibilities for the economy and users.
"We don't really know what people are going to do with the gigabit speed, and that's sort of what makes it exciting," Downes said. "It's very typical in tech, where the tech is ahead of the user requirements. And that's a good thing."
Follow Amy Coyne Bredeson at twitter.com/IPBG_Amy.
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This story was originally published May 7, 2015 at 6:11 PM with the headline "Hargray makes plans for rapid gigabit Internet service."