Cox Communications has introduced the PowerBoost feature in its Northern Virginia system, and will subsequently roll it out across its entire footprint.

PowerBoost gives high-speed Internet customers a burst when they’re downloading large files such as music or video. It is based on DOCSIS technology that automatically detects when a customer begins a large file download, regardless of file type. If network capacity is available, extra bandwidth is allocated to speed the download.

Speeds will be boosted up to twice as fast for Cox Preferred package customers, and up to 33 percent faster for Premier customers.

Comcast was the first to introduce its patent-pending PowerBoost technology to its customers last summer. A Cox spokesman said that the two companies have implemented the feature differently, but Cox decided to license the PowerBoost name from Comcast.