U-verse TV

AT&T U-verse is a registered service mark under which AT&T offers VDSL and ADSL2+ services in various parts of the United States. It provides broadband internet access, TV, and phone through a fiber-to-the-node or Fiber to the Premise communications network.

In 2009, U-verse had 2 million customers (up 100% in last year). U-verse is available to 20 million living units in 22 states.

Services

U-verse TV

Main article: List of AT&T U-verse channels

AT&T U-verse's electronic program guide.

U-verse TV is delivered via IPTV from the head-end to the consumer's Total Home DVR or standard set-top box. U-verse uses H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) encoding which compresses video more efficiently than the traditional MPEG-2 codec. Broadcast channels are distributed via IP multicast, allowing a single stream (channel) to be sent to any number of recipients. The system is also designed for individual unicasts for video on demand, central time shifting, start-over services and other programs desired by only one home at that particular time. The set-top box does not have a conventional tuner, but is an IP multicast client which requests the stream desired. In the IP multicast model, only the streams the customer uses are sent. The customer's connection need not have the capacity to carry all available channels simultaneously.

• Uverse TV is only available in VDSL service areas, and installation requires a technician visit.

U-verse Internet

Internet service is provided to computers connected to the on-premises ethernet cabling or a HomePNA residential gateway or DSL modem. The bandwidths that are offered are as follows:

Tier	Technology	Download speed	Upload speed
Basic	ADSL2+	up to 768 Kbps	up to 384 Kbps
Express	ADSL2+	up to 1.5 Mbit/s	up to 384 Kbps
Pro	VDSL	up to 3 Mbit/s	up to 1 Mbit/s
Pro	ADSL2+	up to 3 Mbit/s	up to 512 kbit/s
Elite	VDSL	up to 6 Mbit/s	up to 1 Mbit/s
Elite	ADSL2+	up to 6 Mbit/s	up to 768 Kbps
Max	VDSL	up to 12 Mbit/s	up to 1.5 Mbit/s
Max	ADSL2+	up to 12 Mbit/s	up to 1 Mbit/s
Max Plus	VDSL	up to 18 Mbit/s	up to 1.5 Mbit/s
Max Plus	ADSL2+	up to 18 Mbit/s	up to 1 Mbit/s
Max Turbo	VDSL	up to 24 Mbit/s	up to 3 Mbit/s

• If ordering UVerse HSI, the Basic, Express, Elite, Pro and Max packages can be self-installed. Max Plus and above packages require a technician visit.

U-verse Voice

File:UverseCall-history.jpg

Call history on U-verse TV.

AT&T U-verse Voice is a voice communication service delivered over AT&T's IP network. Customers subscribing to both AT&T U-verse TV and Voice are provided features such as call history and Click to Call, which displays missed and answered calls on the customer's TV if subscribed to U-verse TV.

• Uverse Voice may be self-installed

U-verse Data Transfer limits

Starting on May 2, 2011, AT&T U-verse will impose limits on the amount of data their customers can transfer without incurring additional overage charges. This limit will be set to 250GB of data per month. If a customer exceeds this limit an overage fee of $10 per 50 GB will be applied to the customer's bill. According to AT&T U-verse letters will go out to all U-verse customers on March 18, 2011 explaining the new terms of service.

Technical details

AT&T provides their U-verse services primarily through fiber to the node technology (FTTN) but began offering the service through fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP). Only FTTN employs a video ready access device (VRAD) in the neighborhood, while FTTP provides service directly from the Central Office usually located in the central part of the city. In FTTN, it is a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM). FTTP uses a fiber multiplexer with the conversion to copper taking place at the termination point on the customer property. FTTN is more common, with FTTP only in new housing developments or areas not otherwise served by copper POTS. VDSL2 is used in FTTN systems with data rates up to 32 Mbit/s for download and 5 Mbit/s for upload for customers in the closest range and data rates up to 19 Mbit/s for download and 2 Mbit/s for upload for those at the farthest allowable range. Currently up to 7 Mbit/s is reserved for Cable television, and up to 24Mbit/s for internet service and VOIP. Once inside the customer's property, service is carried over ethernet or the existing coax network using HomePNA. The service may also be carried over ethernet on existing IW's (Inside Wiring) to STB's (Set top boxes). This is not done often as most customers homes do not have CAT5 wire at their tv locations.

Restoration Charges

AT&T charges a $30 per service reinstatement fee when a U-verse account is suspended for non-payment. If your account is permanently disconnected for non-payment an AT&T Technician is required to come to your home and change out your equipment as the existing equipment will no longer work.

Internet speed comparison versus competitors

Compared to similarly priced competitors, AT&T U-verse offers comparable downstream rates, but significantly slower upstream rates. Upstream rates on AT&T U-verse are limited to 3 Mbit/s, while Verizon FiOS has a maximum of *35 Mbit/s and Comcast Xfinity has a maximum of 20 Mbit/s. (comparing Verizon's *$64.99/mo plan to AT&T's Max Turbo U-Verse plan). Other smaller ISPs provide access via wireless and fiber optic connections. WISPs offer speeds from 1Mbps to 40Mbps while fiber providers can provide symmetric speeds up to 1000Mbit/s.

See also

• Verizon FiOS
• Comcast XFINITY
• Fiber-optic communication

External links

• Official website - TV, VDSL Internet, Phone
• Official website - ADSL2+ and ADSL Internet
• AT&T U-verse Community