Verizon Communications today launched a symmetric 20 Mb/s service over its FiOS network, setting a new industry standard for speed and addressing the growing need for upstream bandwidth to accommodate user-generated content.

The service is initially available in parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut but will be available soon in the other 13 states where FiOS Internet Service is sold over fiber to the home. In addition, the company said it will introduce a small-business version of the service.

The new service will cost $64.99 on an annual plan with voice or $72.99 per month with a voice service and no annual plan. Without a voice service, the 20-20 offer runs $5 more, but it could be cheaper when bundled with video or wireless services.


Currently, Verizon’s fastest FiOS offering is 30 Mb/s, with a 5 Mb/s upstream channel for $179.95. Its other offerings – 5 Mb/s and 15 Mb/s – offer 2 Mb/s upstream channels for $39.99 and $49.99, respectively.

Speaking at Telephony LIVE in Dallas in early October, Verizon CTO Mark Wegleitner acknowledged the growing need for upstream bandwidth, which has been downplayed in the asymmetrical services that FiOS, along with cable and DSL services, provides today.

“Verizon’s new symmetric service is a smart response to the changing usage patterns of high-speed Internet subscribers,” said Vince Vittore, senior analyst with Yankee Group, in a prepared statement. “We believe that as user-generated content continues to expand and telecommuting increases in popularity, upstream speed will become just as important as downstream for all users.”

The new 20-20 service will enable consumers to upload a 3 gigabyte file--such as an hour-long high-definition video--in about 20 minutes, compared to more than 9 hours using the 768 kilobit per second channel typical to DSL or cable modems.