The Docsis 3.0 cable modem service from Comcast has finally launched, and its first market is Minneapolis/St. Paul. The service is built to compete with telecom's who advertise their internet services at connections of 50-Mbps.
Comcast (Nasdaq:CMCSA) now can advertise similar speeds, as uploads travel at 5 Mbps, and downloads speeds are comparable to competitors at 50 Mbps.
How it works is it brings together 6-Megahertz channels, which provides the added speed.
The question for the service, other than matching the speeds offered by competitors, is questionable as to its practical use, as most Internet services and Web sites aren't able to offer us that type of bandwidth on a continual basis.
Comcast says they look at serious online gamers and some businesses that need to transfer files as their core customer to begin with.
The company expects to have the service available in about 20 percent of homes by the end of the year, and all homes to have access by about the middle of 2010.
Comcast also said they should have services offering 100 MBPS and 160 Mbps in the not too distant future.
Prices to begin with will be $149.95 monthly for residential consumers and $199.95 for commercial use.
The service in the Twin Cities starts on April 3.
Comment Preview