Comcast said it plans to launch a DOCSIS 3.1-based 1-Gig broadband service to residences and businesses in Huntsville, Ala., later this year, paving the way for a big broadband showdown with AT&T and an expected municipal service offering.
Comcast is already selling DOCSIS 3.1 services in Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago and Detroit, and has set plans to introduce D3.1-based offerings in several markets this year, including Denver, San Francisco, and Kansas City, among others.
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Comcast didn’t announce expected pricing of the 1-Gig service in Huntsville, but, in other markets, it’s been offering it for a base price of $139.95 per month alongside the testing of a promotional price of $70 per month when customers agree to a three-year service contract.
Comcast also offers a symmetrical 2 Gbps service for residential customers called Gigabit Pro via targeted FTTP deployments, but has yet to introduce that offering in Huntsville. However, Comcast does offer up to 10 Gbps to business customers using its fiber/Ethernet network in Huntsville.
The D3.1 upgrade will help Comcast compete with AT&T, which has launched a fiber-based 1-Gig service in parts of Huntsville. Google Fiber also has plans to offer service on a network being built by Huntsville Utilities.
“We know that high-speed internet is the infrastructure of the future, and it is absolutely necessary for communities to remain competitive for economic development and attractive to people looking to move to Huntsville,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, said in a statement. “We appreciate Comcast’s efforts to bring gigabit-speed Internet service to Huntsville, and look forward to the benefit that this technology will deliver to our residents and businesses.”
“This launch reflects Comcast’s ongoing commitment to offering the fastest speeds to the most homes and businesses in Huntsville,” added Comcast Regional SVP Doug Guthrie. “Soon, customers will leverage a new gigabit internet service that will deliver a truly unparalleled online experience.”
