Gigapower Is Now Officially in the Open Access Game: What It Means for Broadband

Gigapower, a joint venture from AT&T and investment firm BlackRock, has taken a decisive step into the realm of open access networks— a model that allows multiple internet service providers to deliver services over the same fiber infrastructure. Initially focused on expanding broadband reach across underserved areas, Gigapower is now opening its network to third-party ISPs, reshaping how competition and access unfold in the broadband marketplace.

This move stakes a bold claim in a sector long dominated by vertically integrated giants. For consumers, it signals increased provider choice, potential cost benefits, and a higher bar for service quality. For the industry, it marks a pivot toward shared infrastructure strategies once considered niche.

What drives this transformation? In a world where hybrid work, streaming media, and cloud services define how people communicate and do business, bandwidth is no longer just a utility—it’s a foundation. Gigapower’s shift toward open access brings that foundation one step closer to being competitive, efficient, and ready for the demands of a data-heavy future.

Understanding the Power of Open Access Networks

Defining Open Access

An Open Access Network (OAN) refers to a telecommunications infrastructure that separates the roles of network ownership and service provision. In this model, a single network operator builds and maintains the physical network—typically fiber optic—and multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) lease bandwidth to deliver services to end-users. Unlike vertically integrated networks, open access removes exclusivity and promotes a shared-use framework.

How It Differs from Traditional Network Models

In legacy network architectures, infrastructure owners double as service providers. This vertical integration gives one company full control over both the network and the consumer relationship, limiting options for households and businesses. By contrast, open access models decouple these functions. The result: a neutral infrastructure accessible to multiple ISPs on equal terms.

This structural shift redefines how internet services are delivered. ISPs focus on customer service, pricing, and innovation, while the network operator maintains the physical layer of connectivity. Physical monopolies no longer imply market monopolies.

Why Open Access Changes the Game

• ISP Competition: With multiple providers operating on the same infrastructure, users can choose from a wider range of service packages. New entrants face lower barriers to entry, which pressures existing ISPs to increase value.
• Improved Quality of Service: When providers compete on performance and customer experience rather than on control of infrastructure, response times shrink and support quality increases.
• Better Utilization of Network Capacity: Shared infrastructure avoids network duplication and maximizes the return on fiber investments.
• End-User Empowerment: Consumers regain control of their internet experience. Switching providers becomes easier, pricing becomes more transparent, and loyalty is earned—not forced.

Gigapower’s Strategic Move into Open Access

A Powerful Joint Venture: AT&T and BlackRock

Gigapower entered the fiber infrastructure landscape as a joint venture between AT&T and BlackRock’s Diversified Infrastructure business. Announced in late 2022, the venture combined AT&T’s deep experience in broadband construction and operations with BlackRock’s capital scale and investment management expertise. Together, this partnership set out to build a nationwide wholesale fiber network—one that doesn’t just support AT&T, but grants access to a host of other ISPs through an open access model.

Unlike traditional vertically integrated networks, Gigapower's infrastructure plays the role of a neutral host. AT&T serves as an anchor tenant, but it doesn’t control exclusive access. BlackRock holds majority ownership and acts as a steward for other service providers looking to lease capacity. That shift marks a clear departure from closed proprietary networks and opens up market participation across the board.

Why Pivot Toward Open Access?

Adopting an open access architecture enables Gigapower to serve multiple ISPs over the same physical fiber infrastructure. This model transforms fiber from a competitive moat into a shared utility. Backed by a robust investment framework, the joint venture targets unserved and underserved markets where monopolistic providers have historically limited broadband options.

This isn’t philanthropy—it’s strategy. Open access networks unlock operational efficiency and capitalize on economies of scale. By separating infrastructure ownership from service delivery, Gigapower reduces network duplication and attracts a broader mix of tenants. The model generates long-term, predictable revenue streams while distributing capital risk among more players.

Extending Reach, Accelerating Deployment

Gigapower’s open access approach directly supports its goal to accelerate fiber deployment on a national scale. As of early 2024, the network is live or under construction in more than a dozen metro areas, with ongoing expansions announced in places like Mesa, Chandler, and Las Vegas. Leveraging BlackRock’s infrastructure portfolio, the venture is positioned to scale faster than traditional telcos or local providers operating alone.

For municipalities and utilities interested in planned growth and digital readiness, Gigapower offers an alternative to slow or piecemeal builds. By building with multiple tenants in mind from the outset, the company can negotiate local agreements, optimize trenching and construction, and move on to the next city without delay.

• Joint Forces: AT&T provides operations expertise, while BlackRock fuels capital investment.
• Open Access Leverages Scale: Sharing infrastructure reduces duplication and boosts efficiency.
• Faster Rollouts: The model enables quicker builds across diverse geographies.

Instead of deploying one ISP at a time, Gigapower lays the groundwork for a marketplace—where fiber access becomes as ubiquitous and competitive as electricity or water.

Building Tomorrow’s Internet: Gigapower’s Fiber-Driven Infrastructure

Gigapower’s Infrastructure Investment

Gigapower has committed extensive capital and resources to accelerate fiber broadband deployment across its markets. With support from stakeholders including AT&T and BlackRock, the joint venture continues to scale its rollout with a focus on underserved and suburban communities. According to the company's public statements, Gigapower’s strategy includes building a robust, wholesale-only fiber network that can support multiple retail internet service providers (ISPs), lowering barriers to market entry while expanding coverage.

The infrastructure buildout leverages XGS-PON (10 Gigabit-capable Symmetric Passive Optical Network) technology. This architecture allows symmetrical multi-gigabit speeds and enables seamless scaling as bandwidth needs increase. Gigapower’s deployment approach emphasizes aerial and underground fiber installation, depending on geography, which speeds up construction timelines while maintaining resilience.

Delivering Multi-Gigabit Connectivity with Fiber

Fiber optics outperform legacy copper and coaxial technologies by a wide margin. Measurements by the FCC’s Measuring Broadband America program confirm fiber consistently delivers higher actual throughput with lower latency and better consistency compared to DSL and cable alternatives.

Using fiber, Gigapower's infrastructure supports residential and commercial customers with 1 Gbps and 5 Gbps offerings, with future upgrades to 10 Gbps on the horizon. The symmetric nature of the connection—equal upload and download speeds—supports modern applications like cloud computing, remote collaboration, 4K and 8K streaming, and real-time gaming. These capabilities unlock a new tier of digital experience for both consumers and businesses.

Future-Proofing Performance and Ensuring Long-Term Viability

Fiber infrastructure does not need to be replaced to support future bandwidth requirements. Instead of rebuilding networks for each technological advance, operators like Gigapower can simply upgrade optical transceivers and terminal equipment, preserving initial capital investments.

• Latency reductions enhance real-time applications, such as AR/VR and telemedicine.
• Packet loss and jitter, key indicators of service quality, drop significantly over fiber compared to legacy networks.
• High reliability and mean time between failure (MTBF) rates extend the lifetime of the physical network.

As network usage continues to trend toward higher bandwidth and low-latency demands, only fiber infrastructure offers the physical headroom and upgrade pathway needed to stay ahead. Gigapower’s open access fiber model aligns with these demands, supplying ISPs with a cutting-edge foundation they can trust to scale long into the future.

Wider Access, Deeper Impact: How Gigapower's Open Access Shift Reshapes ISPs and Offerings

More ISPs, One Fiber Network

Open access transforms the way internet service providers engage with infrastructure—and Gigapower’s move invites multiple ISPs to operate on its shared fiber network. Rather than building out redundant physical systems, ISPs can offer competitive internet packages over the same fiber backbone. This model eliminates massive upfront capital investments and accelerates market entry, especially for regional and startup ISPs. The result: a richer provider landscape on a streamlined platform.

Wholesale Internet Grows Beyond Legacy Limits

Traditional wholesale models often relied on fixed bandwidth and static contracts. Gigapower’s open architecture breaks that mold, offering scalable wholesale access with fiber-level resilience and performance. ISPs can dynamically provision services and access capacity without lengthy provisioning delays. The streamlined setup drives efficiency, letting providers deploy new plans, faster speeds, or tailored business solutions in shorter cycles.

Strategic Partnerships and Service Bundling Realigned

With shared infrastructure minimizing network redundancy, ISPs gain breathing room to focus on vertical integration and differentiated services. Expect to see alliances forming between fiber-based providers and content creators, smart home companies, or cloud gaming platforms. These ISPs will be able to bundle services—like streaming packages, home automation tools, or specialty SaaS offerings—alongside their internet plans, thanks to predictable network quality and symmetrical speeds enabled by fiber.

• Smaller ISPs can now tap into fiber-grade performance without the burden of construction costs.
• Larger ISPs can test alternative pricing models or pilot specialty services in select markets.
• Wholesale fiber offerings open new B2B opportunities—for example, for coworking spaces, data-heavy startups, and digital healthcare providers.

Thinking ahead: which industries will shape these partnerships? Who will benefit most from open access—and who will adapt fastest?

More Players, More Power: How Gigapower’s Open Access Model Unlocks Choice

Leveling the Playing Field for ISPs

Traditional broadband markets often operate under closed infrastructure models where a single provider owns both the physical network and the customer relationship. Open access disrupts that model. Under Gigapower's open access framework, multiple internet service providers (ISPs) can lease space on the same fiber network infrastructure. Instead of investing in their own costly networks, smaller or regional ISPs can enter new markets using Gigapower’s platform.

This approach breaks down historical barriers to entry in telecom markets. With equal access to the underlying infrastructure, pricing and service innovation become the primary competitive levers—shifting power toward providers that deliver better customer outcomes, rather than those with the deepest infrastructure pockets.

Increased Flexibility and Pricing Power for Users

Customers benefit directly from this structure. Where only one or two choices may have existed in a neighborhood, Gigapower’s model supports a marketplace of ISPs on a single network. This immediate expansion of choice drives cost competitiveness. ISPs must differentiate on service speed, customer support, bundling options, and price rather than leveraging their monopoly hold on infrastructure.

The dynamic shifts from “Who offers service here?” to “Which provider fits my need best?” For households juggling budget pressures and bandwidth demands, this competitive environment brings tangible value. Studies from markets with mature open access networks—like Sweden—show residential broadband prices up to 25% lower than in monopolized fiber regions (Source: OECD Broadband Portal, 2023).

No More Lock-ins: Click-to-Activate Simplicity

Freedom to switch quickly between providers marks another sharp departure from old broadband models. With Gigapower, customers aren’t funneled into multi-year service contracts. Instead, they engage with an evolving marketplace that often allows month-to-month subscriptions and seamless onboarding.

• Simple activation: Users select a provider online, click to activate, and go live in minutes—all on the same fiber line.
• No new hardware installs: Since the physical infrastructure stays the same, switching is software-based and instant.
• Reduced friction: Forget technician visits or hours-long support calls—service migration happens in the background.

That kind of portability fuels a healthier internet economy. It gives ISPs performance pressure and gives users the confidence to explore. In the long run, open access means more innovation, more satisfaction, and a fundamentally different customer relationship with internet providers.

What’s your ideal broadband experience? Faster speeds, lower bills, or better support? Gigapower’s model makes those goals more attainable by stripping away the locked gates of traditional infrastructure ownership. The result: a service market where the best provider—not the only one—wins.

Gigapower’s Open Access Model Raises the Bar for Performance, Security, and Reliability

Stronger Performance Benchmarking Through Fiber Architecture

Gigapower’s entry into the open access landscape rides on the back of its robust fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) architecture. Full-fiber connectivity removes bottlenecks inherent in legacy copper networks, delivering consistent gigabit and multi-gigabit speeds. Whether an ISP is offering 1 Gbps or scaling up to 5 Gbps packages, the infrastructure supports symmetrical bandwidth, enabling upload and download speeds to match — a critical factor for virtual collaboration, gaming, cloud storage, and video conferencing.

Latency, often the silent disruptor in time-sensitive applications, drops significantly in fiber networks. This minimizes delays in streaming, enhances responsiveness in cloud gaming, and ensures seamless communication during VoIP and video calls. Across the Gigapower ecosystem, end-users experience low jitter and fewer packet losses — key indicators used in performance benchmarking by independent bodies like Ookla and M-Lab.

Enhanced Security Through Modern Networking Standards

The shift to open access does not compromise network security. Gigapower’s wholesale platform integrates next-gen encryption protocols and adheres to the IEEE 802.1AE MACsec standard, which encrypts data at the Ethernet layer. With individual ISPs operating within virtualized network slices, data separation is enforced by design rather than by software overlay, significantly reducing vulnerability to cross-ISP data leaks or spoofing attempts.

DDoS mitigation occurs at both the edge and core levels of the network, leveraging technologies like traffic scrubbing nodes and real-time anomaly detection. Additionally, key management practices for secure handoffs between Gigapower and retail ISPs comply with NIST SP 800-57 recommendations, ensuring rigorous credential handling and minimizing rogue access gateway risks.

Seamless User Experience Across All Services

A well-designed fiber network does more than deliver raw speed — it enables uninterrupted digital experiences. Websites load instantly, often in under one second for static content. High-definition and 4K video streaming initiate without buffering even during peak traffic hours, thanks to expansive core-to-edge capacity planning and low contention ratios.

For real-time data services such as telemedicine, remote work platforms, and online learning, the fiber backbone ensures stability under sustained demand. In practice, end-user connections remain resilient even during multi-device use within households, making it possible to game, stream, and video conference simultaneously without degradation.

Across Gigapower’s open access model, ISPs gain a platform that guarantees service-level parity while enabling them to differentiate based on customer support, pricing, and value-added services — not on infrastructure limitations.

Expanding Access: Gigapower’s Support for Digital Inclusion and Accessibility

Extending High-Speed Fiber to Underserved and Rural Communities

Gigapower’s open access model directly targets the long-standing infrastructure gap in rural and low-density areas. By decoupling network ownership from service provision, it enables multiple ISPs to operate over a single, robust fiber network. This setup creates a shared incentive to expand coverage where traditional providers often see little financial viability.

Joint investments from AT&T and BlackRock, combined with local government collaborations, are accelerating deployment into underserved zones. For example, Gigapower has announced rollouts in communities across parts of Arizona, Florida, and Texas—regions where fiber penetration has historically lagged behind national averages.

Breaking Cost Barriers to Accessibility

With multiple ISPs operating on a single Gigapower network, pricing pressure increases. This competition drives down costs and gives consumers a wider range of service tiers. Entry-level fiber packages become more approachable for households previously priced out of the market.

Additionally, ISPs using Gigapower’s infrastructure can tap into federal programs such as the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households with monthly discounts. Since the infrastructure is already in place, ISPs can implement subsidy-driven plans faster and more efficiently.

Narrowing the Digital Divide with Open Access Infrastructure

Lack of access to reliable broadband creates a ripple effect—limiting education, economic opportunity, and civic engagement. Gigapower’s model counteracts this by fostering competition and providing ISPs a cost-effective way to extend services beyond profitable urban cores.

By enabling multiple service providers to reach into less-served communities without building redundant physical networks, Gigapower reduces capital expenditure and encourages innovation in underserved markets. More providers mean more tailored offerings—including education-first packages and low-cost connectivity options.

As a result, the digital divide narrows. Connectivity no longer hinges solely on geography or income, but becomes a utility-driven standard, available in communities that have been historically excluded from fiber adoption.

Championing Open Access and Upholding Network Neutrality

Neutrality Baked into the Open Access Design

Gigapower is now officially in the open access game, and that decision carries more than infrastructure implications—it’s a stance on network neutrality by design. In an open access model, multiple internet service providers (ISPs) can compete over the same fiber network without being subject to gatekeeping by a single operator. This structure inherently reinforces neutrality: traffic flows based solely on user choice and network demand, not on commercial preferences or data prioritization deals.

Transparency Across Service and Usage

Visibility into how data moves through the network matters. Gigapower enforces a policy of transparency that extends beyond marketing claims. Performance metrics, service levels, and bandwidth usage are clearly defined and accessible to both ISPs and subscribers. This approach eliminates ambiguity around service tiers and gives all parties the ability to verify network conditions independently. No data is hidden behind vague “fair use” policies or bandwidth management disclaimers.

No Throttling. No Prioritization. No Exceptions.

Every user—whether connecting through a major ISP or a niche provider—experiences unrestricted access to lawful content and applications. Gigapower’s infrastructure does not allow for throttling specific services, nor does it offer avenues for ISPs to purchase “fast lane” treatment. Providers using Gigapower’s open access platform operate on an equal technical footing, which keeps the internet environment open and innovation-friendly.

• Consumers can select based on price and performance, not artificial service differences.
• Startups and small content providers benefit from equal access to audiences without bandwidth penalties.
• Educational and public institutions receive consistent service quality, free from carrier-based traffic shaping.

Network neutrality, in this case, is not a reactive policy. It is built into how the platform operates. By enabling multiple ISPs to share one infrastructure without influence from overarching commercial interests, Gigapower codifies neutrality as an operational norm—rather than a principle enforced by regulation.

The Future of Internet Services Is Rewriting Itself with Gigapower

Gigapower’s leap into the open access arena sends a powerful message: the internet service model of the past no longer fits the demands of today’s digitally driven world. Its infrastructure-first philosophy reshapes the playing field and sets a new benchmark for what internet access should look like in the coming decade.

Raising the Bar on National Network Standards

With Gigapower’s footprint expanding across multiple U.S. metros, a cascade of technical expectations is emerging. Cities plugged into Gigapower’s fiber-backed open access system will now operate under higher baseline standards for speed, latency, and network flexibility. That shift exerts upward pressure on legacy ISPs, many of which still rely on outdated infrastructure and closed network models. Competition won't just increase—it will be forced to evolve. As more municipalities partner with open access providers, 1 Gbps symmetrical speeds and 99.99% network uptime will stop being selling points and start becoming expectations.

Encouraging Modular, User-Centric Internet Services

The rigidity of single-provider systems is giving way to customizable digital ecosystems. Open access means end-users can choose from a marketplace of digital service providers, mixing and matching services—think video streaming bundles, online privacy tools, telehealth platforms—all delivered over the same fiber backbone. ISPs and app developers now have space to differentiate themselves beyond just bandwidth pricing. Every endpoint becomes an opportunity to personalize, fine-tune, and scale as connectivity needs change.

• A remote worker may prioritize low-latency VPN and enhanced upload speeds.
• A content creator might choose a specialized bundle with cloud rendering support.
• Smart home adopters will look for seamless integration with automation platforms.

This modularity pushes innovation directly into the home and the business, where user needs dictate service structures—not the limitations of a fixed network operator.

A Springboard for Technological Innovation

Developers, website owners, and tech startups stand to benefit from this open framework. Gigapower’s consistent, high-performance infrastructure creates a predictable environment for deployment—an essential condition for building scalable applications. Server response times stabilize. Bandwidth bottlenecks disappear. Services that require steady, symmetrical gigabit upload/download speeds—such as real-time AI processing, cloud-based 3D rendering, or blockchain transaction validation—can now operate at scale outside of traditional data centers.

Where fiber becomes a utility, creativity follows. Think about the potential for new SaaS tools, immersive digital experiences, or even location-based AR services—each optimized for neighborhoods with clean, open access pathways. Startups no longer have to worry about whether their users are hamstrung by last-mile connectivity constraints. This opens the door for cutting-edge applications to be developed and adopted locally, then scaled globally.

Gigapower isn’t just making internet faster; it’s making the infrastructure behind the internet smarter. And that shift will reverberate through industries, communities, and digital lives for years to come.

Gigapower’s Entry Redefines the Fiber Game

Gigapower is now officially in the open access game, and its arrival is shifting the geometry of the U.S. fiber internet market. For consumers, this means faster speeds, more choices, and better pricing—all delivered through a single high-performance infrastructure. For communities, it signals accelerating digital equity, as fiber reaches areas long bypassed by traditional carrier strategies. And for ISPs, a new playing field emerges where speed to market, service quality, and brand reputation hold more weight than tower ownership or long-standing monopolies.

By unbundling infrastructure from service delivery, Gigapower isn’t just deploying fiber—it’s unlocking it. Suddenly, residents can choose from multiple ISPs on the same line, compare offerings directly, and switch without installation delays or equipment overhauls. In a market where 61% of broadband subscribers have little to no effective choice of provider, this kind of structural reform doesn’t just disrupt—it redefines.

Service providers operating on Gigapower’s network gain immediate access to advanced last-mile fiber in competitive urban and underserved rural markets alike, drastically shortening time-to-service. That shift frees up capital for better user experience, driving innovation in pricing, bundling, and customer support models. Meanwhile, cities and local governments benefit from a neutral host approach, ensuring open market participation without duplicative digging or right-of-way conflicts.

Click to explore the new open access experience with Gigapower and see what fiber can really do when limited gatekeeping doesn’t stand in the way.

Tired of one or two providers and opaque service tiers? Reimagine your internet options starting today—Gigapower’s platform invites competition to your front door. The signal is live and the access is yours.