Linksys has debuted its first retail product to combine a DOCSIS 3.0 modem with a WiFi router.
The product, called the AC1900 Dual-Band Cable Modem Router (CG7500), combines a D3.0 modem capable of bonding 24 downstream channels and eight upstream channels, with 802.11ac WiFi and six antennas, and also includes four Gigabit ports and one USB 2.0 port. The device’s “Tri-Band” technology supports three dedicated WiFi bands that, the company said, can support combined speeds up to 4 Gbps.
The company confirmed that the device uses the Intel Puma 6 DOCSIS 3.0 chip, but notes that it includes a new set of firmware.
Taking aim at consumers who are looking to sidestep monthly rental/leasing fees, the new model is already approved for use on Comcast and Charter Communications networks, with more to be added to the list in the coming weeks. The CG7500 carries an estimated street price of $199.97, and is available now for pre-order , and will be available for in-store purchase this weekend, the company said.
In addition to sales at its own site, Linksys.com, the CG7500 will also be available through a mix of online and brick-and-mortar retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy.com, B&H, Micro Center, New Egg, Office Depot, Target and Walmart, Fry’s, and Meijer.
Linksys, acquired by Belkin from Cisco Systems in 2013, reentered the retail cable modem market last year, and competes with players that include Arris, Netgear, TP-Link and Zoom Telephonics, which now licenses the Motorola brand.
Jeff Heynen, consulting director and senior research analyst in SNL Kagan’s Media & Communications unit, has estimated that retail sales make up 10% to 15% of the total DOCSIS CPE market.
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Per recent NPD data, Arris holds about 52.3% of the retail market for DOCSIS modems, followed by about 32% for Netgear, 5.8% for Linksys/Belkin, and 4.6% for Motorola/Zoom, and 3.2% for TP-Link.
At the CES confab in January, Linksys also showed off its first DOCSIS 3.1-based modem, which is expected to hit retail later this year.
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“Combining the Wi-Fi router with a cable modem as a single solution helps consumers declutter their home environments while eliminating extra hardware rental costs charged by most cable companies” Brian Nickell, product manager at Linksys, said in a statement. “Our entrance into the gateway market shows our commitment in providing consumers with high performance cable products combined with the latest wireless technology to deliver the ultimate Wi-Fi experience throughout the home.”
