Comcast Launching 50 Mbps Broadband Service

In December Comcast stated it would start rolling out 100 Mbps service this year with 20% of homes DOCSIS 3.0-capable by the end of 2008. We're not to that level, but starting on April 3rd a new "extreme high-speed" Internet tier will be available to subscribers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.

Of course, subscribers will pay for that speed - and a lot - $149.95 per month for consumers, and $199.95 per month for business class service. Uploads will be capped at 5 Mbps.

Comcast High-Speed Internet SVP Mitch Bowling said:

"This announcement marks the beginning of the evolution from broadband to wideband. We believe wideband will usher-in a new era of speed and Internet innovation for today’s digital consumers. Wideband is the future, and it's coming fast."

Wideband is Cisco's name for downstream channel bonded pre-cert DOCSIS 3.0 gear, BTW.

Standing by its 20% estimation, Comcast also thinks it can have nationwide DOCSIS 3.0 service by mid-2010. Of course, $150? And that's for a cable TV subscriber. I certainly wouldn't pay that much.

Regular Minneapolis/St. Paul subscribers get thrown a bone: the 6 Mbps/384 Kbps tier will get an upload speed bump to 1Mbps, while 8 Mbps Performance Plus customers will see their 1 Mbps upload speeds double to 2 Mbps.

Hey, better than nothing, and no extra cost. That $150 price for 50 Mbps service still makes me blanch.