Comcast Touts Latest '10G' Benchmark: DOCSIS 4.0 Modem Exceeds Symmetrical 4Gbps Speeds

10G logo
(Image credit: Comcast)

Comcast isn‘t moving ones and zeroes at speeds approaching 10 gigabits per second yet, but it just announced achievement of the latest benchmark in the broader cable industry's so-called ”10G“ effort — and it‘s pretty fast. 

In what the biggest U.S. cable company calls a “first-ever lab test,” Comcast successfully delivered both download and upload speeds in excess of 4Gbps to a Broadcom modem, using a system-on-a-chip configuration of Full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0 technology. 

The benchmark follows Comcast‘s successful demo in October at the SCTE‘s virtual Cable-Tec Expo of a virtualized cable-modem termination system (vCMTS) powered by Full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0.

Since FDX-based DOCSIS 4.0 uses traditional hybrid fiber-coax cable, the cable industry is touting the next-gen network technology as a way to not have to dig up roads, sidewalks and back yards to install fiber. 

“With each new milestone, we get a clearer picture of how 10G technologies will unlock the next generation of speed and performance for millions of people worldwide,” said Elad Nafshi, senior VP of next generation access networks for Comcast Cable.

Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!