Verizon FiOS Continuing to Gain Momentum

The popularity of Verizon's groundbreaking, ultra-fast, all-fiber-optic FiOS Internet service continues to climb. Data just released for the second quarter of 2006 shows that FiOS Internet customers made up more than 25 percent of the 440,000 net new wireline broadband sales for Verizon. On average, Verizon has won 12 percent of potential FiOS Internet customers within just nine months of entering a new market with its fiber-optic network. Verizon reported that 375,000 customers now use its FiOS Internet service to connect to the Internet or other data networks at speeds of up to 50 Mbps, 10 times faster than typical cable offers. The second-quarter report notes that Verizon gained 111,000 FiOS Internet customers in the second quarter alone. The company's new fiber-optic network now extends to 4.5 million homes and small businesses in 16 states as the company continues an unequalled construction project to expand the service. More than 3 million homes are now "open for sale" for FiOS Internet.