The DOCSIS 3.1 specification released in 2013 theoretically allowed 10Gbps downloads and 1Gbps upload speeds, but actual implementations never came close to those numbers. The cable industry has been promising symmetrical upload and download speeds over cable networks for years without ever saying when such speeds will become available. Years of unfulfilled upload-speed promises "One of the most important breakthroughs in the DOCSIS 4.0 standard is the ability to use network spectrum more efficiently, allowing operators to dramatically increase upstream speeds without sacrificing downstream spectrum to do so." Advertisement
The Broadcom "device is expected to become the world's first production silicon to be developed using the DOCSIS 4.0 Full Duplex standard, which represents an evolutionary leap forward in the ability to deliver ultra-fast speeds over HFC networks," Comcast said. The test used a Broadcom SOC powered by the latest version of DOCSIS, the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification. The fiber service requires the installation of new wires into each home, but the newly announced lab test delivered multi-gigabit upload and download speeds over the standard cable wires that Comcast has installed throughout its 39-state territory.
“Full duplex” DOCSISĬomcast does offer a residential fiber service with upload and download speeds of 2Gbps, but availability is limited and the service costs $300 a month, plus installation and activation charges of up to $1,000 combined. "This milestone is particularly exciting because this technology is an important step forward toward unlocking multigigabit upload and download speeds for hundreds of millions of people worldwide, not just a select few," Comcast executive Charlie Herrin said in the announcement. While cable download speeds of up to 1.2Gbps are prominently displayed, Comcast doesn't tell customers what upload speeds they'll get until they enter a valid credit card number.Ĭomcast justified its tactic of hiding upload speeds by saying that its "website reflects the way customers use the Internet, with downstream overwhelmingly dominating usage." But occasionally, such as in today's announcement, Comcast acknowledges that customers want higher upload speeds. Comcast's cable uploads, ranging from 3Mbps to 35Mbps, are so low that Comcast hides them deep within its online ordering system. Further Reading Comcast hides upload speeds deep inside its infuriating ordering systemĬable customers have been waiting a long time for upload speeds that aren't a tiny fraction of download speeds.