AT&T U-verse

AT&T U-verse
Subsidiary
Industry Telecommunications
Founded June 26, 2006 (2006-06-26)
Areas served
 Select USA States[1]
Services
Parent AT&T Inc.
Website www.att.com/shop/tv/u-verse.html

AT&T U-verse, commonly called U-verse, is an AT&T brand of triple-play telecommunications services in 21 states of the United States. Launched on June 26, 2006 using the FTTP, VDSL, and ADSL communication protocols, U-verse includes broadband Internet, IP telephone, and IPTV services in 21 states.[2][3] The U-verse name is also used for the bundling of wireless and DirecTV services, even outside AT&T's 21 state local coverage area.

History

AT&T Inc. announced its plans for a fiber-optic network and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) deployment in 2004 and unveiled the name "U-verse" (formerly "Project Lightspeed"[4]) for the suite of network services on January 6, 2008. Beta testing began in San Antonio, in 2005, and AT&T U-verse was commercially launched June 26, 2006 in San Antonio. A few months later on November 30, 2006, the service was launched in Houston. In December 2006, the product launched in Chicago, San Francisco, Oakland, Hartford, Indianapolis, and other cities in their vicinity. In February, 2007, U-verse was launched in Milwaukee. One month later service was initiated in Dallas and Kansas City. In May 2007, U-verse launched in Detroit, Los Angeles, and surrounding areas. Launch continued in Cleveland, Akron, and San Diego in June 2007. The Oklahoma City and Sacramento launch occurred in August, 2007. In November 2007 service was started in Austin. In December 2007 U-verse was launched in Orlando and St. Louis. A controlled launch was also initiated in Atlanta that month marking the first launch in the Southeastern United States.[2] On December 22, 2008 the product debuted in Birmingham.[5] On January 25, 2010, AT&T announced that U-verse was available to over 2.8 million households.[2]

U-verse Voice was added on January 22, 2008, and was first available in Detroit.[6] In 2008, U-verse availability approached 8 million households, and over 225,000 customers had been enrolled, with new installations reaching 12,000 per week.[2] By 2009, 1 million U-verse Voice customers and 2.1 million U-verse TV customers had been enrolled.[7]

At the end of 2011, U-verse was available to more than 30 million living units in 22 states, and U-verse TV had 3.8 million customers.[8] By mid-2012, U-verse TV had 4.1 million customers, U-verse Voice 2.6 million, and U-Verse High Speed Internet 6.5 million.[9]

By the third quarter of 2012, U-verse had 4.3 million TV subscribers, 2.7 million Voice subscribers and 7.1 million High Speed Internet. This represents 7% growth quarter on quarter. The actual number of customers is lower, as most customers subscribe to a bundle (such as TV and voice) and so are counted in both categories.[10]

At an analyst meeting in August 2015, following AT&T's acquisition of satellite provider DirecTV, AT&T announced plans for a new "home entertainment gateway" platform that will converge DirecTV and U-verse around a common platform based upon DirecTV hardware, with "very thin hardware profiles". AT&T Entertainment and Internet Services CEO John Stankey explained that the new platform would offer "single truck roll installation for multiple products, live local streaming, improved content portability, over-the-top integration for mobile broadband, and user interface re-engineering. All of these are steps that are planned to deliver that premium effortless entertainment experience anywhere."[11][12]

In February 2016, Bloomberg reported that AT&T was in the process of phasing out the U-verse IPTV service by encouraging new customers to purchase DirecTV satellite service instead, and by ending the production of new set-top boxes for the service. An AT&T spokesperson denied that U-verse was being shut down, and explained that the company was "leading its video marketing approach with DirecTV" to "realize the many benefits" of the purchase, but would still recommend U-verse TV if it better-suited a customer's needs. AT&T CFO John Stephens had also previously stated that DirecTV's larger subscriber base as a national service gave the service a higher degree of leverage in negotiating carriage deals, thus resulting in lower content costs.[13][14]

On March 29, 2016, AT&T announced that it will increase data caps on its Internet service on May 23, 2016.[15][16]

The integration of AT&T and DirecTV is set to begin by the fourth quarter of 2016.[17]

On May 16, 2016, AT&T announced that it will acquire Quickplay Media, a cloud-based platform that powers over-the-top video services.[18]

On September 19, 2016, AT&T announced that it will be eliminating the "U-verse" brand and renaming the broadband and phone services "AT&T Internet" and "AT&T Phone".[19][20][21]

Services

AT&T delivers most U-verse service over a fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) or fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) communications network. In the more common FTTN deployment, fiber-optic connections carry all data (internet, IPTV, and voice over IP) between the service provider and a distribution node. The remaining run from the node to the network interface device in the customer's home uses a copper-wire current loop that is traditionally part of the PSTN (public switched telephone network). In more recently constructed housing developments, AT&T uses an FTTP deployment—they run fiber-optic cable from their DSLAM all the way to an optical network terminal in the customer's home.

In areas where AT&T deploys U-verse through FTTN, they use High-speed digital subscriber lines with ADSL2+ or VDSL technology. Service offerings depend on the customer's distance to an available port in the distribution node, or the central office. To qualify for U-verse TV service (only available through VDSL2), the customer must be less than 3500 feet (1000 meters) from a VRAD, the VRAD must contain an available port, and the copper wire-loop must pass qualification. Where pair bonding is available, the maximum service distance can extend to 5500 feet (1600 meters).

In so-called "fringe" areas, AT&T provides U-verse HSI through IP-DSLAM ADSL2+, which does not require pair bonding or a VRAD and operates at slower bitrates than pair-bonded VDSL2. In practice, VRADs are not installed in many older urban neighborhoods as AT&T prepares to abandon the fixed-line broadband market.[22]

Television

AT&T U-verse's electronic program guide

AT&T delivers U-verse TV via IPTV from the headend to the consumer's receiver,[23] required for each TV. Transmissions use digital H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) encoding, compared to the existing deployments of MPEG-2 codec and the discontinued analog cable TV system. The receiver box does not have a RF tuner, but is an IP multicast client that requests the channel or "stream" desired. U-Verse TV supports up to four/six active streams at once, depending on service tier. The system uses individual unicasts for video on demand, central time shifting, start-over services and other programs.

U-verse packages

AT&T groups its general channels into progressive packages (U-family, U200, U300, and U450); each adds channels to the package before it, with rare exceptions. All subscribers receive at least the equivalent of the U-family package, which also includes 65 of the 75 Stingray Music channels. Many U-family channels were also available on the historical U-basic package.[24] The historical U400 package is identical to the U450 package, except that U450 automatically includes the HD Services package.[25]

Specialty channels are grouped into a la carte packages, which can be combined with the general packages: The Sports Package; ESPN College Extra; Fox Soccer Plus HD; NBA League Pass; HD Services; HD Premium Tier; Paquete Español; and Adult. Paquete Español can be combined with a higher-tier package and, is then called U200 Latino, U300 Latino, or U450 Latino. Additionally, channels grouped as Internationals are available À la carte in language groups or singly, and a number of premium movie packages are available to premium package or higher-tier subscribers. High-definition TV technology is required to access HD channels.

On February 29, 2016, the U-verse member channels: ATTention (channels 400, 962 in SD and 1100, 1400, 2500 in HD), Buzz (channels 300, 851, 961 in SD and 1000, 1300, 1851 in HD), Front Row (channels 100, 847 in SD and 1847 in HD), Showcase (channels 800, 964 in SD and 1800 in HD), Sports (channels 600, 801, 963 in SD and 1600, 1801 in HD), and U-verse Movies (channels 200, 800, 945, 960 in SD and 1200, 1850 in HD) were removed from the AT&T U-verse channel lineup.

Channel groupings

Carriage negotiations

Internet

U-verse provides Internet access to computers connected on-premises via Ethernet cabling or Wi-Fi from the included residential gateway or DSL modem.

AT&T announced Max Plus service (then called "Max 18") in November 2008,[45] and Max Turbo was announced in December 2009. Basic, Express, Pro, Elite and Max (VDSL) are usually available for self-installation. Max (ADSL2+), Max Plus, and Max Turbo can be self-installed if only one jack is connected for DSL (through a splitter installed by a technician), or splitter-free if no landline shares the pair. Conditions where higher speeds are still attainable through filters or quality wiring to more than one jack occur less often.

AT&T announced the Power service on August 26, 2013.[46] The power service required two conditioned line pairs (pair bond) and a Motorola NVG589 VDSL2+ Gateway.[47] AT&T charges a service fee to condition and pair bond the lines and install a new gateway, plus additional monthly charges.[48]

Upload speeds are VDSL connections - for areas that offer U-verse TV. ADSL2+ is limited to 1 Mbit/s upload - in areas that do not offer U-verse TV.

Name Download Speed Upload Speed Notes
Express 1.5 Mbit/s 1 Mbit/s
Pro 3 Mbit/s 1 Mbit/s
Elite 6 Mbit/s 1 Mbit/s
Max 12 Mbit/s 1.5 Mbit/s
Max Plus 18 Mbit/s 1.5 Mbit/s
Max Turbo 24 Mbit/s 3 Mbit/s
Power 45 Mbit/s 6 Mbit/s Select markets (requires VDSL2 pair-bonding or 17 MHz)
Power Plus 75 Mbit/s 8 Mbit/s Select markets (requires VDSL2 pair-bonding and 17 MHz)
GigaPower 100 100 Mbit/s 100 Mbit/s Austin, TX; Houston, TX (April 2015); Raleigh-Durham, NC; Mobile, AL
GigaPower 300 300 Mbit/s 300 Mbit/s
GigaPower 1G 1 Gbit/s 1 Gbit/s Mobile, AL; Atlanta, GA; Greensboro, NC; Raleigh, NC

Voice

Call history on U-verse TV

AT&T U-verse Voice is a voice communication service delivered over AT&T's IP network (VoIP). This phone service is digital and provides a voicemail service accessed by *98 from the home number. Customers who subscribe to both U-verse TV and U-verse Voice get features such as call history on channel 9900, which displays the last 100 missed and answered calls on the customer's TV, and "Click to Call" from the TV history. U-verse Voice includes Caller ID, Call Blocking, Anonymous Call Blocker, and many other calling features. U-Verse Voice was first available in Detroit, on January 22, 2008.[2]

Equipment

Line equipment

U-verse uses the Alcatel-Lucent 7330 or 7340 Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) shelf, also called a video-ready access device (VRAD), deployed either in a central office (CO) or to a neighborhood serving area interface (SAI). These models are both composed of circuit boards providing service, which are fed by fiber. FTTN (fiber to the node) systems use model 7330, which uses existing copper wiring to customers' homes,[3] leading to distance limitations from the VRAD cabinet to the customer's home. The 7330 ISAM is an internet protocol DSL access multiplexer that supports VDSL and ADSL protocols.[49] FTTP (fiber to the premises) systems use model 7340, mostly in areas such as new neighborhoods or large housing developments, where AT&T chooses to run fiber to the household, removing the distance limitations of copper. The 7340 then connects to a serving area interface, which distributes service to homes in the neighborhood, via a dual strand fiber, which then splits into 32 customer fiber pairs. The fiber pairs typically lead to a customer's residence at the network interface device.

The VRAD typically connects upstream to an Alcatel-Lucent 7450 Ethernet service switch in the central office hub, then to the headend video hub office.[3]

Customer equipment

AT&T provides the customer premises equipment (leased for a monthly fee, or purchased with a 1-year warranty), and includes a wireless router and modem, which they call a residential gateway (RG) or internet gateway. They also provide TV receivers made by Cisco and Motorola (including standard receivers, wireless receivers, and DVR receivers).

Those eligible for triple play (TV, Voice, and Internet) will use a VDSL2 transport link which uses one of the following modems:

Those who are eligible for double play (Voice and Internet) only, will use an ADSL2+ transport type which uses one of the following modems:

Currently four devices support bonded pair: the 2Wire iNID, Arris NVG589 and NVG599, and Pace 5268AC. The Motorola NVG589 originally replaced the 2Wire iNID for all bonded pair installs. The NVG599 and 5268AC both have replaced the NVG589 and are used interchangeably. These three devices are capable of both ADSL2+ and VDSL.

All AT&T U-verse transport types use 802.1x authentication. This means only equipment on AT&T's approved list works with the U-verse service, as other (non-AT&T) equipment cannot authenticate with AT&T DSLAMs and GPONs. Another side-effect of U-verse's authentication protocol is the lack of bridge mode support (unlike standard DSL that uses PPPoE authentication, which is easily bridgeable). At best, the 2Wire/Pace routers support DMZ+ mode, while the Motorola devices support IP Passthrough. AT&T allows residential and business customers to pay for static IP addresses, which they support on all AT&T approved equipment (including the 2Wire/Pace and Motorola routers.)

When AT&T launched IP-DSL (ADSL2+, double play only), they installed connections with either the 2Wire 2701HGV-B or Motorola 2210 (pairing the latter with a Cisco Linksys E1000 for residential customers, or an EdgeMarc 250AEW for business customers). The 2Wire 2701HGV-B was limited to a top speed of 6Mbit/s, while the Motorola 2210 was capable of higher speeds. In later installations, AT&T standardized on the Motorola NVG510, phasing out the other routers for new service installation.

When AT&T introduced the "power" tier in 2013, installations were initially done with the iNID. AT&T later standardized on the Motorola NVG589, which supports pair-bonding for both ADSL2+ and VDSL2. AT&T also uses the NVG589 in some installations where the customer otherwise is too far from a node for service. Additionally, it supports an internal battery for those who subscribe to the U-verse Voice service for battery backup during power failures. AT&T no longer supplies the battery to customers for any residential service.

Device Transport Type Static IP Wireless Support Bridge Mode Type
2Wire 3600/3800/3801 VDSL2
ONT 		Yes 802.11b/g DMZ+
2Wire 5031NV VDSL2
Also known to work on ADSL2+ 		Yes 802.11b/g
802.11n 		DMZ+
2Wire 270HGV-B ADSL2+ Yes 802.11b/g DMZ+
2Wire iNID VDSL2 Bonded Pair Yes 802.11b/g DMZ+
Motorola NVG510 ADSL2+ Yes 802.11b/g
802.11n 		IP Passthrough
Arris NVG589 ADSL2+
VDSL2
ADSL2+ Bonded Pair
VDSL2 Bonded Pair
ONT		 Yes 802.11b/g
802.11n 		IP Passthrough
Arris NVG599 ADSL2+
VDSL2
ADSL2+ Bonded Pair
VDSL2 Bonded Pair
ONT		 Yes 802.11b/g
Dual-Band 802.11n/AC 		IP Passthrough
Motorola 2210 ADSL2+ No None IP Passthrough
Pace 5268AC ADSL2+
VDSL2
ADSL2+ Bonded Pair
VDSL2 Bonded Pair
ONT		 Yes 802.11b/g
Dual-Band 802.11n/AC 		DMZ+

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Find out which AT&T U-verse services are available in your area.". AT&T U-verse Services. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "AT&T U-verse Timeline" (pdf). AT&T. 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Post Alexander, Atlanta, Ga., p. 24.
  4. ↑ AT&T U-verse Timeline
  5. ↑ AT&T U-verse TV Service Arrives in Birmingham
  6. ↑ "AT&T U-verse Timeline" (PDF). Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  7. ↑ AT&T U-verse Voice Digital Home Phone Service Reaches 1 Million Lines
  8. ↑ Best-Ever Mobile Broadband Sales and Strong Cash Flows Highlight AT&T's Fourth-Quarter Results
  9. ↑ "U-verse Update: 2Q12" (PDF). Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  10. ↑ U-verse Update: 3Q12
  11. ↑ Bode, Karl (August 14, 2015). "AT&T Outlines the Changes DirecTV (and U-Verse) Users Will See". DSL Reports. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  12. ↑ Baumgartner, Jeff (August 17, 2015). "AT&T to Put 'Genie' Into U-Verse's Bottle". MultiChannel News. Retrieved August 20, 2015. (subscription required (help)).
  13. ↑ Moritz, Scott (February 16, 2016). "AT&T Takes U-Turn on U-Verse as It Pushes Users Toward DirecTV". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  14. ↑ Baumgarnter, Jeff (February 16, 2016). "AT&T Stops Making U-verse TV Boxes: Report". MultiChannel News. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  15. ↑ Brodkin, Jon (March 29, 2016). "AT&T boosts data caps for home Internet and steps up enforcement". ArsTechnica.com. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  16. ↑ de la Cruz, Jose (March 31, 2016). "AT&T Increases Home Internet Data Caps But There's A Catch". Jobs & Hire. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  17. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (April 26, 2016). "AT&T Sees DirecTV, Broadband Subscriber Gains in Q1 as U-verse Fades". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  18. ↑ Sawers, Paul (May 16, 2016). "AT&T acquires OTT video platform Quickplay ahead of DirecTV streaming service launch this year". Venture Beat. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  19. ↑ Bode, Karl (September 19, 2016). "AT&T is Getting Rid of the U-Verse Brand". DSL Reports. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  20. ↑ Arnason, Bernie (September 19, 2016). "AT&T Says Goodbye to U-verse". Telecompetitor.com. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  21. ↑ Farrell, Mike (September 20, 2016). "AT&T Readies U-verse Brand for Ether". MultiChannel News. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  22. ↑ Bode, Karl (March 3, 2014). "AT&T's 'IP Transition' Will Make U.S. Broadband Even Less Competitive". Techdirt. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  23. ↑ AT&T U-verse Total Home DVR
  24. ↑ Channel Directory: AT&T U-verse [January 2014]
  25. ↑ "Official AT&T Channel Line Up" (PDF). AT&T. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Hallmark Channels Go Dark On AT&T U-verse". Multichannel News. September 1, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  27. ↑ Steinberg, Brian (July 22, 2015). "Hallmark Channel Returns to U-verse After Nearly Five Years". Variety. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Univision signs deal to launch cable networks on AT&T U-verse". Media Moves. May 11, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  29. ↑ "UPDATE: Rainbow And AT&T Ink New Deal, 'Mad Men' Season Saved On AT&T U-Verse". Deadline.com. July 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  30. ↑ "AT&T's U-verse Drops Food Network, HGTV and Other Scrippy-s Networks". Chicago Tribune. November 5, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Food Network, HGTV, Back on U-verse". Chicago Tribune. November 7, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  32. ↑ "AT&T U-verse, Scripps Reconnect on Carriage Contract". Multichannel News. November 7, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  33. ↑ "AT&T & Scripps Networks Reach Agreement". Deadline.com. November 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Longhorn Network hooks U-verse". KXAN.com. September 4, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  35. ↑ Farrell, Mike (January 15, 2013). "Disney Strikes U-Verse Carriage Deal". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  36. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (October 26, 2015). "AT&T Sets U-verse, DirecTV Carriage Deal with Tribune Stations, WGN America". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  37. ↑ Lieberman, David (March 4, 2016). "Univision Charges AT&T With "Redlining" As Programming Goes Dark On U-verse". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  38. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (March 4, 2016). "Univision Blasts 'Discriminatory Behavior' as Stations Go Dark on AT&T's U-verse". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  39. ↑ Szalai, Georg (March 4, 2016). "Univision Goes Dark on AT&T U-verse, Accuses Telecom of "Discriminatory Behavior"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  40. ↑ Ramos, John (March 5, 2016). "AT&T, Univision Communications fail to reach U-Verse distribution deal". Hints News Network. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  41. ↑ Eggerton, John (March 24, 2016). "All Univision Content Restored to U-Verse, For Now". MultiChannel News. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  42. ↑ Eggerton, John (March 24, 2016). "All Univision Content Restored to U-Verse, For Now". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  43. ↑ Villarreal, Yvonne (March 24, 2016). "Univision restores UniMas and Galavision to AT&T's U-verse as negotiations continue". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  44. ↑ Lieberman, David (March 24, 2016). "Univision Networks Return To AT&T's U-verse While They "Finalize" Carriage Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  45. ↑ "AT&T Customers Connect Faster with New 18 Mbps U-verse High Speed Internet Service". News release. AT&T. November 6, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  46. ↑ "45 Mbps U-verse Internet Service Arrives in 40 Additional Markets". News release. AT&T. August 26, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  47. ↑ "45 meg tier...After Install Notes & Pictures, etc". DSL Reports forum posting. Bill Hamel. August 25, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  48. ↑ http://www.att.com/esupport/internet/usage.jsp#fbid=tE3urpN_hCP
  49. ↑ Alcatel-Lucent 7330 ISAM FTTN ANSI

External links

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