Comcast Brings Gigabit Internet through Its DOCSIS 3.1 Modem

Google is not the only company to provide you gigabit internet service. Three years after the tech giant launched Google Fiber in Kansas City, Comcast is rolling out its own gigabit internet service. The company just announced this week that it has successfully tested the world’s first DOCSIS 3.1 modem in Philadelphia. That means the company has found a way to deliver super fast internet using its existing cable lines, which required no major work on its current infrastructure.

“At a home in the Philadelphia area, we took the next important step forward in delivering gigabit speed broadband over our hybrid fiber coaxial network. The test used the standard cable connections we have in homes across the country. All we needed was a new modem, a software upgrade to the device that serves that neighborhood, and a few good engineers,” said Tony Werner, Executive Vice President and CTO of Comcast in a blog post.

Gigabit internet, broadband that provides download speeds of 1,000 megabits per second or better, usually requires internet providers to install new fiber lines. This is an expensive and overlong process. Most of the cable companies aren’t always interested in investing that much for technology. Since, Comcast can do lots of upgrades with software enhancements to its current infrastructure, the offer sounds promising. And the customer will get the Gigabit service from Comcast sooner than the other companies.

The good thing is, DOCSIS 3.1 doesn’t require any backyards or a street digging as it is backwards compatible. Combined with the mass upgrade they have completed with their advanced Hybrid fiber-coaxial network, this technology will provide more gigabit choices for the customers.

In 2016, Comcast will start testing their new technology in more homes so that they can observe how it performs in multiple real world environments. Any minor modifications necessary will be made by the company.