Warner Robins first in Georgia for faster Cox Internet service

Warner Robins is joining cities like San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix in getting faster Internet service for residential customers.

People in a handful of neighborhoods can upgrade their service to be able to run all their devices at the same time, download HD movies or 1,000 photographs in just a minute, and load 100 songs in a few seconds.

Cox Communications announced the new G1GABLAST Tuesday at the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The service, available in a bundle for $99.99 per month or $119 for other customers, will offer speeds 100 times faster than the average speed in the United States, according to a Cox Communications release.

"We all know that speed is what matters. Our customers are after speed. The communities have been talking about gigs for many, many months now," said Lynn Murphey, Cox's Middle Georgia market vice president.

Four subdivisions in the Warner Robins area already equipped with fiber optic cable will be the first in Middle Georgia for the faster service: Tiffany Kensington, Somerset, Morgan Ranch and South Bend in Bonaire.

The International City is the first community in the eastern United States to get the new technology, which is also available in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Omaha, Nebraska.

Warner Robins Mayor Randy Toms believes the faster Internet will attract people and businesses.

"I heard earlier, 'Go fast or go home,' and we are going fast," Toms said.

April Bragg, president of the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce, said leading in technology is key to luring the types of industries needed to sustain Robins Air Force Base.

"It's going to help us to draw the kind of talent we need," Bragg said as the wind whipped flags on the porch of the chamber during the announcement.

A timetable for other midstate communities to get G1GABLAST was not immediately available.

Also, beginning Wednesday, Cox Ultimate customers will see maximum download speeds increase from 200 megabits per second to 300 megabits per second, and Premiere customers will go from 100 to 150 megabits per second.

"We are deploying new technology and infrastructure that will offer our customers the choice of gigabit speeds in all markets we serve," Murphey said in the statement.

Cox said it has invested $15 billion in its communities to upgrade technology in the past 10 years to improve video delivery, phone and high-speed Internet, as well as home security and automation services to homes and businesses.

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 and follow her on Twitter@liz_lines.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 3:53 PM with the headline "Warner Robins first in Georgia for faster Cox Internet service ."