SubscribeCharter Communications has informed shareholders it will soon introduce gigabit speed broadband plans in select cities.
“In a couple of months, we’ll launch gigabit speeds offerings in several key markets using DOCSIS 3.1, with more launches planned through 2018,” said Charter CEO Thomas Rutledge. “We expect DOCSIS 3.1 modems to be priced similarly to DOCSIS 3.0 modems when purchased at scale, and we’ll begin to buy exclusively DOCSIS 3.1 modems and drive higher entry-level speeds.”
Charter will not be following Comcast and Altice with fiber to the home upgrades for customers looking for the fastest possible speed. Instead, it will begin limited rollouts of current DOCSIS 3.1 technology, which will support gigabit download speeds with a considerably more limited upload speed.
Charter may have accidentally leaked the first place it plans to offer gigabit service – Oahu, Hawaii, by jumping the gun on a support page (quickly removed yesterday) discovered by a DSL Reports reader.
Charter executives have consistently told shareholders the priority for the company this year is to continue upgrading its acquired Time Warner Cable and Bright House cable systems to support Spectrum’s standardized internet speed of 100Mbps. (An unadvertised upgrade option to 300Mbps is also available for approximately $105/mo with a one time $199.99 upgrade fee. Legacy markets still awaiting upgrades continue to receive 60Mbps with an unadvertised upgrade option to 100Mbps for approximately $105/mo with a one time $199.99 upgrade fee.)
Charter is facing competitive pressure from Google and telephone company competitors upgrading to fiber to the home service. Hawaiian Telcom, for example, now offers gigabit broadband options on Oahu. Charter’s gigabit offerings are most likely to be introduced in markets where it already faces gigabit competition. For areas that don’t, Charter is moving forward with less dramatic upgrades that currently top out at 300Mbps.
“As of today, we offer [standard] internet speeds of 100Mbps in over 75% of our entire footprint, up from just 50% at the end of the second quarter,” added Rutledge. “And we expect to offer minimum speeds in excess of 100Mbps in nearly all of our passings by year-end.”
Rutledge did not define what the next set of broadband speed tiers would be.
Rutledge also announced new Spectrum broadband customers would be getting an improved Wi-Fi router, known as Wave 2, specifically developed and designed by Charter’s engineers.
“It has much faster speeds and even better propagation of reliability throughout the home,” Rutledge offered.
How about concentrating on up time not faster speeds? O wait, you can’t charge more for better up time. It is all laughable in my opinion. All you Charter customers can pretty much grantee a half a#$ upgrade that won’t change the important things like reliability and sure won’t help the customer service.The plant will still work great were it works and still work like garbage were it doesn’t . Until some common sense legislation finds it way to these duopoly you will keep getting the professor Fonzworth treatment. GOOD NEWS… then more of the same. Again laughable and not… Read more »
This comment is whats laughable. Seriously if your having problems with the company call them and try and get it fixed, or go elsewhere. Simple as that!
poor former Brighthouse members in a week it will be a year since SPP prices started for them. That means no one will be on the legacy first year promo rate anymore(if still on it). Will suck for the midwest in January and NorthEast in March
oohh EJ….you dullard…
As far as uptime…. A few years ago on Black Friday, my neighbor decided to install a new mailbox. Being a man of considerable intelligence, he went with the attitude of, “We don’t need no stinking call before you dig!!” Of course, he cut my line. I live on a small neighborhood, the only one on the node, and we have a TOTAL of 10 houses. We are not talking a ton of Charter Spectrum customers affected by this cut line. I fully expected they would not be out until Tuesday at the earliest, yet they were out THAT evening!… Read more »
I get great service from Charter with Internet. Their upload speed sucks so they need to upgrade, innovate and get Full duplex going. I’d love to have just a simple 200/200 connection. 400/400 or 500/500 would be optimal.