Comcast is looking to join Google Fiber and AT&T Gigapower in offering gigabit speed Internet to its customers. The cable provider has already begun trials of its data over cable service interface specification 3.1 modem in Philadelphia and has plans for further expansion.
The DOCSIS modem offers backward capability with Comcast’s existing hybrid fiber-coaxial network allowing for gigabit download speeds without having to lay more fiber. If you’re thinking Comcast already offers a gigabit service, you are right, but according to Comcast’s EVP and CTO Tony Werner, the service will be different than Comcast’s Gigabit Pro offering, which only works in close proximity to the company’s fiber network and costs $300 per month.
“The test used the standard cable connections that we have in homes across the country,” Werner, said in a blog post. “All we needed was a new modem, a software upgrade to the device that serves that neighborhood, and a few good engineers.”
According to Werner the service will be tested over the next few month with hopes of offering the service to its full customer base by the end of 2016.
“Over the coming months, we will activate more test homes with this state of the art DOCSIS 3.1 technology so that we can observe how it performs in multiple real-world environments and make whatever minor modifications necessary to get it ready for deployment to our customers,” Werner added.
After the Philadelphia experiment, which is already taking place, Comcast will begin trials in Northern California and Atlanta. There is no word yet on service pricing.
