Verizon's FiOS internet service has been very popular in the
United States. The fiber-optic
network's reliability and fast speeds have attracted over 3.1
million subscribers, and continues to be a major competitive threat
to cable-based Internet Service Providers.
In response, many of those ISPs are either deploying or consider
new speed tiers made available by DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems. These new
modems allow for multiple channel bonding, and can theoretically
achieve hundreds
of megabits downstream.
Cablevision
and Comcast
are already making DOCSIS 3.0 services available to several major
markets, and DOCSIS
3.0 cable modems are also available for purchase.
Canada's most populous city will now have access to these fast
speeds as well. Rogers Cable Communications is launching its new
"Ultimate Internet" tier in several phases across the
Greater Toronto Area, which has a population of over 5.5 million
people. Phase 2 neighborhoods will see the new service on September
18.
Rogers promises downstream speeds of 50 Mbps and upstream speeds
of 2 Mbps for $149.99 a month. Unfortunately, the new service comes
with a 175GB monthly usage cap, which could theoretically by reached
in less than 8 hours at full speed. Customers will also be required
to purchase a combination router and wireless-N gateway for $200,
since many older routers appear to have problems with the new DOCSIS
3.0 cable modems.
Several Canadian ISPs such as Videotron
and Cogeco have also launched DOCSIS 3.0 service in smaller
cities.
"DOCSIS 3 is a critical last-mile technology that
allows cable companies to more than double their Internet speeds and
to compete with fibre-optic delivery systems," said Lawrence
Surtees, Vice-President of Communications Research at IDC Canada Ltd.
"Customers will also benefit from the deployment of DOCSIS
3.0 because it enables Rogers Cable to enhance the allowances of
their Internet service tiers for no extra charge to customers."
As a first step, Rogers will boost the download speed for its
Extreme Plus tier to 25Mbps from 18Mbps, along with an increased
usage cap of 125GB per month.
