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Comcast Boosts Speed of Basic Cable-Modem Internet Service

Posted on: Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 12:00 CDT

Jul. 13--Comcast Corp.'s announcement Tuesday that it is increasing the speed of its basic cable-modem Internet service is the latest and probably not the last salvo in its war for broadband dominance with Verizon Communications.

The speed increase from 3 megabits per second to 4 Mbps will take effect July 25 and won't cost existing customers anything.

Comcast has consistently refused to cut its base price, which will remain at $42.95 a month. The higher speed will be especially welcome to people downloading software or other large files.

Verizon previously upped the ante, at least in the midstate, when it announced on June 14 that it had begun installing fiber-optic lines to all homes and businesses in the Harrisburg East Shore suburbs, but not in the city itself.

Fiber-optic lines are capable of very high speeds, and Verizon intends to use the lines to compete with Comcast for both Internet and television customers.

"It's plainly evident that Comcast, like Cox, Adelphia and other cable companies, is reacting to the superior, state-of- the-art broadband network Verizon is deploying directly to homes and small businesses," Verizon spokeswoman Sharon Shaffer said.

The main fiber Internet package from Verizon will have downstream speeds of 5 Mbps and upstream speeds of 2 Mbps.

Comcast, after July 25, will offer downstream speeds of 6 Mbps, but upstream speeds of just 384 kilobits per second.

Verizon will charge $34.95 a month if purchased as part of a package, while Comcast is charging $42.95. Verizon currently charges $29.95 a month for its DSL high-speed Internet service if purchased as part of a package.

Verizon also will offer a fiber Internet package featuring speeds of 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream for $44.95 a month, and one with downstream speeds of 30 Mbps and upstream speeds of 5 Mbps for $179.95.

Shaffer said that with the addition of electronic equipment to the fiber network, speeds of up to 100 Mbps can be achieved, as they are now in parts of South Korea and Japan.

Comcast said it no longer will require some customers to either subscribe to Comcast basic cable TV or pay $15 a month extra for the cable-modem service.

That will apply to customers who take the premium cable-modem package offering speeds of 8 Mbps downstream and 768 Kbps upstream for $52.95 a month, and to those who agree to stay at the current basic speed of 4 Mbps downstream and 384 Kbps upstream for $42.95.

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CMCSK, VZ, COX, ADELQ,

Source: The Patriot-News

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