As expected, AT&T today announced U-verse services for small businesses in the 70 markets in which it is rolling out its fiber-to-the-node network, offering Internet access at speeds up to 18 megabits per second.

The move enables AT&T to compete in one of its traditional markets against heavier attacks from the cable companies which have been emphasizing faster Internet access as an advantage for small business customers. Verizon has been delivering small business services via its FiOS network for almost three years now.

AT&T Business Solutions said its U-verse High-Speed Internet Business Edition can serve up to 50 Internet users at one time, and businesses can choose to use static IP addresses in order to host their own domains for Web or email. The static IP address packages start at $15 a month for eight addresses, up to $40 a month for 128. Service packages range from $40 a month to up to $85 a month, if the small business also buys wired or wireless voice service.

Other features include free unlimited access to AT&T’s WiFi Network, which has 17,000 hotspots in the US, email storage, security software to combat spyware, viruses, popups and spam; free in-office wireless networking, including a wireless router that comes with four Ethernet ports, a USB port and a two-tier firewall.