Comcast announced that it installed the first gigabit DOCSIS 3.1-based cable modem in a customer’s home near Philadelphia this week. Savvy readers may recall Comcast already unveiling a 2Gbps service called Gigabit Pro earlier in the year, but there are some differences between the two. Aside from the variation in download speed, Gigabit Pro is available today in 14 states where Comcast provides service. The new DOCSIS 3.1-based gigabit service, on the other hand, is more of a demonstration and is not widely available to subscribers.
That said, the new DOCSIS 3.1-based service is significant, because it works with the coaxial-fiber cable infrastructure already in place. It does require a DOCSIS 3.1-compatible cable modem in the subscriber’s home. Comcast reported in May that its DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit Home Gateway cable modem was developed in-house. This means upgrading will require exchanging cable modems based on older DOCSIS versions (3.0 or older) with the new DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem.
In order to get the 2Gbps Gigabit Pro service, you need to live within one-third of a mile from Comcast’s fiber network. That Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) service also requires a technician to come to your house to complete the installation, as stated in the Gigabit Pro FAQ. This triggers a $500 installation fee. In contrast, customers should be able to install the DOCSIS 3.1 modem themselves, and it shouldn’t be subject to the same distance limitations. In fact, it should work in any home currently capable of obtaining broadband cable modem service from Comcast.
Comcast Xfinity engineer, in a ninja mask
There are a few theoretical differences in maximum speed. The Gigabit Pro service delivers a symmetrical 2Gbps down and 2Gbps up. Comcast doesn’t say what the upload speed is for its DOCSIS 3.1 service, though the DOCSIS 3.1 specification’s maximum speed is up to 10Gbps down and 1Gbps up.
Comcast has yet to announce pricing for DOCSIS 3.1 gigabit Internet, either. Its FTTH-based 2Gbps Gigabit Pro costs an astounding $299.95 per month, not counting the $500 activation fee and aforementioned $500 installation fee. In comparison, Google Fiber costs $70 per month, with its $300 so-called “construction fee” currently waived.
If you’re thinking of getting gigabit Internet, and it’s available where you live, make sure your own home network equipment supports it first. While it’s obvious 1Gbps is very fast, older switches and Wi-Fi gear may be limited to the tens of megabits per second. So, check your home network and make the necessary upgrades before moving up to some kind of gigabit broadband service. And if you’ve got it already, let us know in the comments how it is.
[Source:- extremetech]