Comcast’s rollout of DOCSIS 3.1-based gigabit broadband services has reached several markets in the northeastern U.S. as the cable operator pursues its plan to wrap up its D3.1 deployment by year-end.
The latest round of deployments include parts of Vermont, including Berlin Bethel, and Greensboro; Central Pennsylvania, including Lancaster County, Berks County, and Franklin County; and parts of Connecticut, including Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, West Haven and Windsor.
Update: The latest rollout also includes residential and business customers in Western Pennsylvania and areas in northern West Virginia and Maryland, and follows launches last year in greater Pittsburgh and Morgantown, W.V. Areas tied into this D3.1 expansion includes Westmoreland County, the Alle-Kiski Valley, Armstrong County, the Dubois area, Elk County, and Indiana County; in Western Pennsylvania; West Virginia (including Monongalia, Marion and Taylor counties); and Maryland (Accident, Friendsville, McHenry and Blakeslee.
Pricing of the 1-Gig (downstream) DOCSIS 3.1 service tends to vary a bit by market, but in Central Pennsylvania, for example, the “everyday” price for the residential offering is $104.95 per month without a contract, and is also being sold for the promotional price of $89.99 per month (with a 12-month contract).
For the D3.1 rollout, Comcast is leaning on the xFi Advanced Gateway. That device, formerly known as the XB6, is also equipped with an 8x8 WiFi antenna array that uses 802.11ac version 2 and a set of IoT radios (Bluetooth LE, Zigbee and Thread).
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Comcast is also offering D3.1-based services to business customers.
Comcast ended 2017 23.86 million residential high-speed internet subscribers, but does not break down how many take the new 1 Gbps service or its other speed tiers.
RELATED: Comcast Broadens DOCSIS 3.1 Rollout
Comcast ended 2017 with about 80% of its footprint upgraded to D3.1, and expects to complete the rollout by the end of 2018.
Comcast also sells a symmetrical 2 Gbps service, called Gigabit Pro, that uses fiber-to-the-premises technology.
