PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following its announcement in February to bring 1 Gigabit-per-second Internet speeds to residential and business customers using DOCSIS 3.1 technology, Comcast today announced it is beginning an advanced consumer trial of Gigabit Internet service to early adopters in a number of neighborhoods in Atlanta, with plans to rollout to additional markets later this year.
New or current customers in Atlanta can visit Xfinity.com/gig to learn about the new service and request additional information on this trial as the service becomes more broadly available. If selected for the trial, they will be among the first to experience DOCSIS 3.1 technology and receive up to 1 Gigabit Internet speeds over the existing communications lines to their homes. As part of the trial, these initial users will also be encouraged to give Comcast feedback about their service, which will be used to help ensure future market rollouts deliver the best possible customer experience.
“Our Atlanta customers will be among the first in the world to enjoy this new Gigabit technology, and we’re looking forward to learning more from these early adopters about how they take advantage of these ultra-fast speeds,” said Comcast Central Division President Bill Connors. “The capabilities of DOCSIS 3.1 are incredibly exciting, and we are the first to market with a Gigabit offering that runs over our existing cable infrastructure.”
The consumer introduction of DOCSIS 3.1 marks a major step forward in the evolution of ultra-high-speed broadband. Once DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit Internet service is available in a market, customers with Gigabit-capable devices will be able to sign up for a new plan and then experience the benefits of that speed.
Initial customers in Atlanta will have the choice of a promotional contract price of $70 per month for 36 months, or an every day price with no contract at $139.95. Once this advanced consumer trial is complete, Comcast plans to roll Gigabit service out at additional price points in other markets to gauge consumer interest in Gigabit speeds.
In February 2016, Comcast unveiled plans to offer Gigabit Internet service using DOCSIS 3.1 technology in Atlanta and Nashville in early 2016, with Chicago, Detroit, and Miami to follow in the second half of the year. In December 2015, Comcast announced it had successfully installed its first DOCSIS 3.1 modem in Philadelphia, and one was installed in Atlanta a few days later. In 2015, Comcast launched its residential, fiber-based, multi-Gigabit service – Gigabit Pro – with symmetrical 2 Gbps speeds. Gigabit Pro is now available to 18 million homes across the country.
About Comcast Cable:
Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. Comcast has invested in technology to build an advanced network that delivers among the fastest broadband speeds, and brings customers personalized video, communications, and home management offerings. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
