SALT LAKE CITY – June 14, 2021 – Comcast announced that it has increased the speeds for some of its most popular Internet speed tiers in Utah, including Xfinity Gigabit service. Customers will be able to take advantage of advanced WiFi technology that is capable of delivering speeds faster than one Gigabit per second (Gbps) to support the ever-increasing number of connected devices in their homes. The upgrade to the Xfinity Gigabit service is part of a national rollout that began this year.
As part of a trial test, Comcast achieved a 10G technical milestone delivering symmetrical 1.25 gigabit-per-second upload and download speeds over a live production network. Comcast has been an industry leader in deploying and evolving network virtualization and DAA, which replaces physical elements of traditional networks with software- and cloud-based technologies that provide greater performance, increased reliability, and the ability to upgrade more quickly and evolve networks without replacing physical equipment.
In addition, Extreme Pro+ customers in Utah will see their download speed increase from 600 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 800 Mbps. Similarly, Performance Starter+ customers will see a download speed boost from 25 Mbps to 50 Mbps. The upgrades will be made at no additional cost to customers in Utah who have already begun to see the benefits from the new speeds.
“We recognize that Comcast plays an important role in helping our customers stay connected, so we are constantly advancing our Internet product with new innovation,” said Deneiva Knight, Comcast external affairs director “Our state-of-the-art gateways with WiFi 6 technology, wall-to-wall WiFi coverage, personalized tools and controls and advanced cybersecurity, are all helping to make our customers’ connectivity experience better than it has ever been.”
Comcast is also one of the first U.S. Internet Service Providers to offer a WiFi 6 Certified gateway with the latest version of its xFi Advanced Gateway, which is capable of delivering multi-Gigabit speeds via ethernet and laid the groundwork for Gigabit speeds over WiFi. Customers on the new upgraded Xfinity Gigabit tier will require an xFi Advanced Gateway, or one of the WiFi 6 capable devices approved to work with the Xfinity network to receive the faster speeds. Comcast will contact Gigabit Internet customers who need to upgrade their equipment for no additional cost if they don’t have a capable device in their home. Performance Starter customers will not require new equipment to take advantage of this speed increase.
“We’ve learned during the pandemic that a strong internet connection is essential to how we function at home, school, business and in our social lives,” said Sandy City Council Member Monica Zoltanski. “This is a welcome upgrade that will give people the speed, security and reliability they need to stay connected online.”
Increased Internet speeds support faster connections and more capacity to support the growing number of smart home devices that are being added to home WiFi networks today and in the future. According to The Xfinity Cyber Health Report, some customers have dozens of devices in their homes. In fact, Xfinity xFi users have on average 12 devices per home and added two devices over the past year, while high-end users have as many as 33 devices and added five since last year.
Comcast’s Xfinity Gigabit Internet service is delivered using Comcast’s existing network architecture and the connections that are already in most customers’ homes. In Utah, the company offers Gigabit Pro, a 2Gbps fiber-based synchronous broadband service that is twice as fast as anything else available in the residential market.
Since 2017 alone, Comcast has devoted more than $15 billion to strengthening and expanding its network – including building more than 33,000 new route miles of fiber. Every 2.5 years, the company adds as much capacity to the network as it added in all the previous years combined.
Comcast’s commitment to digital equity has never been stronger. The company redoubled efforts as COVID-19 shined an even brighter light on the digital divide. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Internet Essentials — Comcast’s low-cost, high-speed Internet service. To celebrate this milestone, Comcast reinforced its digital equity commitment by accelerating the nation’s largest broadband adoption program; aiming to launch 1,000 Lift Zones throughout the country, with 35 in Utah, by the end of 2021; and investing in education and equity-focused organizations.
“Because we’re committed to support low-income families in Utah, our Internet Essentials program has been one of the primary ways to get Internet into every home,” said Knight. “We look forward to continuing that as we close the digital divide.”
ABOUT COMCAST CORPORATION:
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
