AT&T is bringing its fiber to the premise technology to areas of Lafayette County, providing faster internet service to more homes and small businesses, including AT&T GigaPowerSM service with internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second to some locations.

This is part of the deployment of the 100% AT&T fiber network to more than 15,000 rural Mississippi homes and businesses announced in June.

“The strength of our state’s economy relies on innovation and investment,” said Jeff Busby, president of the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors. “New technology offers economic growth opportunities and enhances the quality of life for area residents and business owners. I applaud AT&T’s continuing investment in Lafayette County and throughout Mississippi.”

With fiber to the premise, Lafayette County customers will have access to AT&T high-speed internet, available in many speed options.

AT&T has choices to fit each customer’s needs, including wireless networking capability for all internet customers. When customers sign up for AT&T high-speed internet, they have access to more than 40,000 AT&T wi-fi hot spots at no extra charge.

In late 2011, the Federal Communications Commission modernized its Universal Service Fund program and created the Connect America Fund to help high-speed internet providers reach customers in high-cost, predominately rural areas, mostly due to low-density and large distances between customers. The fiber to the premise project is made possible in part by the Connect America Fund.

“AT&T understands the need for high-speed internet access for all citizens — urban and rural. That’s why we’re continuously working to create and deploy new technologies, advancing seamless connectivity and enriched experiences,” said Gunner Goad, External and Legislative Affairs Manager, AT&T Mississippi. “We’re excited to offer faster internet speeds, new advanced services and additional choices, including U-verse, to more customers in Lafayette County.”

AT&T has invested more than $875 million in its Mississippi wireless and wired networks during 2013-2015.

In January, AT&T announced that it had added 1 million additional business customer locations — including more than 10,500 in the state of Mississippi — to its fiber network since 2012 when the company began an aggressive fiber expansion program.