Mediacom Communications is following through with its big commitment to deploy DOCSIS 3.1 with the debut of a 1 Gbps broadband service that’s initially available across the MSO’s Iowa footprint, which covers nearly 1 million homes and spans about 300 communities.
A Mediacom official said pricing on the 1-Gig (downstream) service will be $139.99 per month as a standalone, along with “promotional package offers” that will also be made available later.
The new service, which is paired with an upstream that maxes out at 50 Mbps, is also outfitted with a monthly data usage allowance of 6 terabytes before overage charges are applied ($10 for each additional bucket of 50 GB of usage). Mediacom is relying on D3.1-based network equipment from Cisco Systems and Casa Systems, and is using multiple modem vendors that have not yet been announced. JR Walden, Mediacom’s CTO, noted in the announcement that the DOCSIS 3.1-based offering complements the company’s fiber-based gigabit service for businesses.
The service launch in Iowa follows Mediacom’s announcement in December 2016 that it would upgrade its network to D3.1 by the end of 2016, paving the way for speed tiers that deliver up to 1 Gbps, and a new service tier that delivers up to 500 Mbps. Before D3.1 technology was developed, Mediacom has also been using DOCSIS 3.0 for a residential 1-Gig service in some markets.
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Mediacom hasn’t announced where it will launch the new, speedier services next, but noted that it will be expanding it on a market-by-market basis throughout 2017.
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“Since 1999, Mediacom has invested $3 billion of private capital in Iowa to ensure that hard-working families throughout the Hawkeye State receive the same advanced communications services as America’s largest cities,” Mediacom founder and CEO Rocco B. Commisso said in a statement. “As a result of these investments, I am extremely proud to announce that Iowa is not only Mediacom’s first gigabit state, but now leads all U.S. states in gigabit broadband availability.”
“I launched Connect Iowa nearly five years ago with the goal of making Iowa the most connected state for broadband in the Midwest,” added Governor Terry Branstad. “Today’s announcement by Mediacom means that over three quarters of the homes in our state now have access to world-class internet speeds, and that Iowa is positioned at the forefront of America’s transition into the gigabit era.”
“In today’s global marketplace, access to ultra-fast broadband services is critical to ensuring sustainable economic growth within our rural communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. “The fact that Mediacom is making gigabit speeds available throughout its entire Iowa service area puts hundreds of small towns across our state on the cutting edge of broadband technology.”
