Comcast announced this morning that it was starting to deploy its DOCSIS 3.0 wideband service, which features a download speed of up to 100 Mbps, to businesses in Colorado.
Comcast has previously launched Deluxe 100 in its hometown of Philadelphia, New Jersey, northern Delaware and Baltimore. The business-class DOCSIS 3.0 tier is also available in Washington, D.C., Augusta, Ga., Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Washington and Oregon.
The 100 Mbps tier is available to Comcast’s business-class customers for $369.95 per month and includes Microsoft Communication Services, which Comcast said was valued at more than $500, and a productivity suite that combines Windows SharePoint and Microsoft Outlook e-mail powered by Microsoft Exchange Server for no additional fee.
Comcast has previously said it was using cable modem termination systems from Arris and customer premises equipment from SMC Networks for its 100 Mbps tier that bonds four downstream channels.
“We are excited about helping local companies increase their online productivity and efficiency and take their businesses to the next level with our 100 Mbps service,” said Jay Dirkmaat, vice president of business services for Comcast’s Mile High Region. “The ability to replace slower T1 lines with a more affordable solution further demonstrates the power of our network to enable Comcast to deliver super-fast Internet speeds.”
In other Comcast news, the company’s Xfinity TV branding effort took flight in Memphis yesterday, which, among other things, means more HD choices and faster data speeds for its customers in the area.
Early last year, Comcast started rebranding all of its triple-play services under the Xfinity moniker. Since then, the Xfinity name has been launched in numerous systems across Comcast’s footprint.
The Xfinity launches typically take place in tandem with Comcast’s analog-to-digital reclamation project. With the additional bandwidth from the analog-to-digital conversions, Comcast has offered additional HD channels, more on-demand choices and faster DOCSIS 3.0-enabled data tiers.
The Xfinity branding was announced yesterday in the Memphis area with an additional 50 HD channels and more on-demand choices listed as some of the additional benefits to subscribers.
While Comcast currently offers its DOCSIS 3.0-basd 50 Mbps service to business and residential subscribers in the area, Memphis-area customers will soon have access to the Deluxe 100 service. The first launch of the 100 Mbps tier is scheduled to take place Feb. 16 in Germantown.
Also on Feb. 16, Comcast customers in Germantown who don’t have digital boxes will need digital transport adapters (DTAs) to watch shows in the basic tier channel lineup. Comcast provides subscribers with one digital converter box and up to two digital transport adaptors free, with additional DTAs costing $1.99 each per month.
After the initial launch in Germantown, the analog-to-digital switch will be completed throughout the area during the next year.