Comcast: 100-Meg Residential Service Coming This Year

Comcast starting this year plans to roll out 100-Megabit-per-second downstream service for residential customers - twice its fastest Internet tier today.

Currently, Comcast has deployed DOCSIS 3.0, the next-generation cable modem technology, to more than 75% of its nationwide footprint representing some 38 million homes and business premises. The MSO's Extreme 50 tier offers up to 50 Mbps downstream in those markets.

In the next 12 to 18 months, Comcast anticipates being able to offer 100-Mbps Internet service to many, if not all, of those customers, said Cathy Avgiris, senior vice president and general manager of communications and data services. The company is the biggest broadband provider in the U.S., with 15.9 million high-speed subscribers as of the end of 2009.

"We're looking to introduce a residential service at 100-Meg speeds," said Avgiris, who recently was promoted to oversee Comcast's broadband as well as voice and wireless services. "For a customer who wants to take advantage of that, we'll offer that to them."

Cablevision Systems, for one, already offers a 101-Mbps downstream service to its New York-area residential customers, and Mediacom Communications has debuted 105-Mbps broadband in two small markets.

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