Comcast Gigabit Internet Service Coming To Five New Cities In 2016

DOCSIS 3.1 is just one of several tools Comcast has in its next-gen broadband toolbox.

While DOCSIS 3.1 modems have been tested extensively in labs and simulated network environments, the Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, and Nashville rollouts mark the first time these devices are being more widely connected to Internet users’ homes and offices using standard cable connections and the company’s existing cable plant.

The company announced that it will launch the service this year to residential and business customers in the South Florida area.

“This technology will not only provide more gigabit speed choices for customers, it will also eventually make these ultra-fast speeds available to the most homes in our service areas”, John Crowley, Comcast senior vice president for the Chicago area, said in a news release.

Atlanta and Nashville will get the service in early 2016, a Comcast spokesperson told Tech Insider.

Comcast has not yet confirmed how much it’s going to charge for the service and it hasn’t even confirmed whether its data cap will be placed on the gigabit service as well. The service offers customers with download speeds of 1,000 Mbps, which is far faster compared to what most Americans are now enjoying with their Internet connections.

The selling point of Comcast’s Gigabit Internet is that, unlike other services that require upgrading to high-speed but expensive fiber optic cables, it only requires an upgrade to existing cables.

This broader rollout follows DOCSIS 3.1 modem trials the Comcast conducted in its hometown Philadelphia market and in Atlanta in December. Well, it’s at least partially working, as Comcast is prepping to roll out their fastest speeds ever, in select locations. It also is using FTTH technology as the basis for its 2 Gbps Gigabit Pro service, which is now available in Atlanta.

“We don’t have product details to share today in terms of price or data plans”, said a spokesman for Comcast.