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Comcast deploys more Wideband access

by on20 November 2008

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DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems deliver 50 Mbps

Comcast announced that they are now deploying the new DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem Internet access in Washington and Oregon. The DOCSIS 3.0 specification cable modems are able to deliver speeds as high as 50 Mbps, which is now being called “Wideband” Internet access.

This is the second announcement from Comcast about Wideband access using the DOCSIS 3.0 specification for deployment. New England, New Jersey and Philadelphia all started getting Wideband Internet access in late October, although several sources continue to tell us that it is not available everywhere in these areas yet.

Of course, speed costs, so don’t expect to pay the same tame rates for Wideband access that you have been paying for what you currently have now. Comcast is offering two Wideband access packages, which are the 25 Mbps service for $62.95 per month and the Extreme 50 service for $139.95 per month. For those Comcast customers in these Wideband areas that don’t upgrade they can expect their speed to double at no charge.

Comcast customers will be subject to the non-negotiable 250GB per month bandwidth allowance even if they are on the Extreme 50 plan. The cap is part of the FCC settlement with Comcast that is supposed to feature a transparent program that is in place to make sure that subscribers know and understand the limitations of the service that they are being provided with.

Competing cable provider, Time Warner, who offers the Road Runner cable modem service has yet to really reveal any plans concerning DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades, but the company has been working on upgrading their infrastructure and has increased speeds, as well.

Currently, Verizon’s FiOS fiber-to-the-curb is the only real Wideband deployment that is currently competing with Comcast’s current Wideband deployment; and like Comcast, FiOS is only available to a limited number of consumers in certain areas.

The largest broadband provider in the U.S. is SBC, who has really done little as of late to address the Wideband market space. While the company is deploying their new U-verse technology, it does not offer the kinds of speeds that can be provided by Wideband services.

No word from Comcast on where they intend to roll out the DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades next.
Last modified on 20 November 2008
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