Comcast lights customer DOCSIS 3.1 modem in Philly

Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) has taken the next step in its Gigabit broadband journey, announcing that it deployed what it claims to be the "gigabit-class" DOCSIS 3.1 modem on a customer-facing network in Philadelphia.

Tony Werner, CTO of Comcast, said in a blog post that before the end of next year, "we will begin offering a new gigabit speed choice that works over the existing connections in our customers' homes in several parts of the country."

Comcast said it plans to enable its entire broadband footprint with DOCSIS 3.1 technology by 2018. Werner said it has already expanded trials to other parts of Pennsylvania, as well as Northern California and Atlanta.

FierceCable has this coverage.