Four years ago, Chattanooga, Tennessee started work on the first large scale 1Gbps fiber service, and in 2014 it claims to offer broad service to anyone living in the city.

Residents and businesses can pay for 1Gbps internet at around the same cost as Google Fiber, alongside other options like DSL and cable.

Like Us on Facebook

In a move to bring Chattanooga into the 21st century, away from factories and pollution, the city leaders approved the fiber-optic network in 2009, with an $11 million federal stimulus package to keep the work ongoing.

Chattanooga sees itself as the next Silicon Valley, offering broad 1Gbps internet to residents and businesses. City leaders want the investment into gigabit technology to pay out in new tech startups and a revival to the town's former success.

Adoption of high-speed internet does not automatically make the city a tech hub, but when startups like 3D Ops, Feetz and Bellhops start to move to the city, it looks promising for the future.

Chattanooga is one of the first and only cities to offer a municipal broadband network - in many states even setting up a municipal network is illegal.

Google Fiber has challenged the current norm of cable and satellite data speeds, by offering 1Gbps in Kansas City and Austin, Texas, and other cities have followed suit with their own developments.

Chattanooga did not give figures on how many people are paying for 1Gbps internet, but reports say the service is overwhelming internet service providers, who cannot offer the same service for the same price.

TagsChattanooga, fiber optic, 1Gbps, municipal network