The North Carolina Next Generation Network formally launches on Saturday at a community center in Raleigh.

AT&T is building the network across the Triangle and parts of the Triad in partnership with several municipalities and four universities. A key requirement for the new network was that the provider enable access in urban and other areas where high-speed Internet access has been limited. AT&T also is committed to providing Wi-Fi services.

Called NCNGN, and pronounced NC-engine, the network will provide Internet capabilities up to 1 gigabit in speed – hundreds of times faster than standard cable Internet access.

The first NCNGN network connection will be dedicated at the Tarboro Road Community Center and the Saint Monica Teen Center at 121 Tarboro Street.

AT&T is in the process of deploying a fiber network across parts of the Triangle with its “GigaPower” Internet service already available in several areas.

Google Fiber plans to deploy a fiber network in the Triangle in coming months. Fiber-optic service also is available in parts of Durham and Durham County from Frontier Communications.

Time Warner Cable recently announced plans to boost Internet speeds but has made no announcements regarding any fiber deployments.

As part of its agreement with the NCNGN consortium, AT&T agreed to bring fiber-optic Internet access at no charge to several community centers in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Winston-Salem. In recent months, AT&T has worked with NCNGN’s partners to map out where the network would run and which community centers would be among the first to be connected.

The NCNGN consortium also includes UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State, Duke University and Wake Forest University.

Saturday’s dedication begins at 10 a.m.

Speakers include: Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane, Councilor Eugene Weeks, AT&T North Carolina President Venessa Harrison, and North Carolina State Representative Yvonne Holley.

Also at the event, the group called Raleigh Digital Connectors will provide basic computer and Internet access training.

The NCNGN chose AT&T last year for the project after reviewing responses and plans submitted by various providers based on a “request for proposal.”