AT&T is expanding the markets in the Triangle where it is offering ultra-fast Internet service and at the same time is slashing prices to as low as $70 per month from the previous $120 as competition increases across the Triangle.

Current AT&T customers also may see automatic increases in speed by March 31.

Service is now available in parts of Apex and Morrisville.

AT&T also said it is boosting in-residence and in-business Wi-Fi speeds, providing customers with “residential gateway” devices.

Known as GigaPower, the AT&T fiber-optic network service offers Internet access at up to 1 gigabit per second, hundreds of times faster that standard cable TV offerings.

Customers subscribing to speeds up to 100 Mbps may will see automatic increases to 1Gbps in speed by March 31, AT&T said Tuesday.

(To see if GigaPower is available in your area, visit: https://www.att.com/shop/u-verse/gigapower.html.)

Customers now receiving 100 megabit Internet service will see speeds increased to 1 gigabit as of March 31.

Just two weeks ago, Time Warner Cable disclosed it is upping Internet speeds in the Triangle. However, the company at this time is not offering gigabit speeds.

AT&T already offers gigabit service in parts of Raleigh and Cary.

Frontier Communications offers its own fiber service in Durham and parts of Durham County.

The competition will increase later this year when Google Fiber begins deploying its own network.

Areas where GigaPower is already available include:

  • Gallery at Cameron Village
  • Lofts at Weston Lakeside
  • Bradford Apartments
  • 401 Oberlin
  • Allister North Hills
  • The Bristol (Cary Parkway)
  • Bainbridge Six Forks
  • 425 Boylan
  • Midtown Green North Hills
  • Parkside at Bella Casa

AT&T also offers TV and entertainment services through its U-verse offerings. A variety of packages combining TV and Internet services as well as phone are available.

The communications giant has already reported that customer demand has exceeded expectations in the Triangle. It is working with the North Carolina Next Generation Network, or NCNGN, to build a fiber network in the Triangle, Durham County and in parts of the Triad.

“Our customers love the incredibly fast Internet speeds we offer with AT&T GigaPower,” said Eric Boyer, AT&T U-verse senior vice president, in a statement about the new pricing and expansion. “We’re excited to bring the service to even more customers in North Carolina.”

U-verse with AT&T GigaPower customers are also getting faster Wi-Fi speeds. They’ll receive a new device known as a residential gateway that takes advantage of the latest in Wi-Fi technology.

The Wi-Fi gateway will allow customers to “connect more devices with faster speeds from nearly anywhere in your home or business. The gateway sends a ‘smart signal’ that identifies where connected devices are located and increases signal strength specifically in their direction. This allows customers to access the Internet over Wi-Fi at a greater distance than what was previously available,” AT&T explained.