Comcast to offer Gigabit speed through modem technology

Google Fiber and AT&T have been making headlines nationally for their plans to expand fiber networks that provide ultra-fast Internet connection in select cities across the U.S., and now Comcast is increasing its speed as well.

According to the Washington Post, a hardware company, Broadcom, is preparing to unveil new technology this week that will allow Comcast modems to support 1 gigabit-per-second speeds, double the speed of Comcast’s offerings and on par with the fiber projects underway. The Broadcom chip is part of new DOCSIS 3.1 technology that allows speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second.

“DOCSIS 3.1 is a critical technology for Comcast to provide even faster, more reliable data speeds and features such as IP video to our subscribers’ homes,” Tony Werner, Comcast executive vice president, said in an emailed statement to The Tennessean. “By more effectively using our cable plant to grow our total throughput, we expect to offer our customers more than 1 Gigabit speeds in their homes in 2015 and beyond.”

Comcast will begin offering its new modem capabilities this year, according to the Post. Comcast declined to comment further.

Google Fiber is being implemented in Kansas City, Mo. and Kans., Provo, Utah, and Austin, Texas, and the company is exploring expansion in nine other metropolitan areas, including Nashville. AT&T also has said fiber is headed to Nashville and other markets, although no timetable has been given. Both companies have emphasized the significant cost of installing fiber, and the new technology that Comcast will be rolling out will allow the company to avoid the expenses associated with new infrastructure.

Google Fiber’s entrance to new markets and the potential for more expansion have prompted other Internet providers to adjust prices or work to enhance their own speeds. Although Google Fiber has yet to announce which cities will gain fiber next, Nashville could be on track to reap the benefits of enhanced speeds and greater options coming from AT&T and Comcast.

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter @JamieMcGee_.