Comcast now offering 1-gig web speeds for customers

BERLIN — Residents of several Middlesex County towns are among those who can now access business and residential internet speeds of up to 1 gigabite per second through Comcast.

These speeds will be among the fastest and most widely available and include access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network of more than 19 million hotspots, according to a press release. Comcast plans to launch 1 gig service to the majority of its service areas in Connecticut throughout the year.

Andover, Berlin, Bethel, Bloomfield, Bolton, Cromwell, Danbury, East Hampton, East Hartford, Ellington, Hamden, Hartford, Hebron, Marlborough, Middlefield, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven, Plainville, Portland, Ridgefield, Simsbury, Tolland, Vernon, West Hartford, West Haven and Windsor now have the capability through Comcast, according to the release.

The service uses DOCSIS 3.1 technology, which makes it possible to deliver ultra-fast speeds over the existing communications lines already in most homes and neighborhoods, the release continued. To enjoy the service, all customers need to do is install a new DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem.

“With the launch of our 1 Gigabit service, we continue to deliver an unparalleled internet experience for our customers in terms of speed, control and reliability,” Michael Parker, senior vice president of Comcast’s Western New England Region, said in a statement. “We’ve increased internet speeds 17 times in the past 17 years, and we will continue to bring customers the absolute fastest speeds possible by proactively investing in our advanced, high performance network.”

With a 1 gigabit connection, customers can:

⏩ Download a 5 gigabyte HD movie in 40 seconds

⏩ Download a 600 megabyte TV episode in four seconds

⏩ Download a 150 megabyte music album in two second

⏩ Download 15 gigabyte video game in two minutes

Comcast Business is also offering DOCSIS 3.1-based internet service to business customers in Connecticut. With the continued roll out of its gig-speed network, Comcast’s Business Internet 1 Gig and Business Internet 50 speed tiers are now available to business customers in the area using the company’s existing network, without the need for any costly or disruptive construction of new network facilities, the release said.

For information, call 866-429-3085.

Contributed photo Comcast is offering a new internet service with speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second to residential and business customers in Connecticut.