SureWest gives Kansas City business customers free DOCSIS 3.0 speed updates

SureWest Communications (Nasdaq: SURW) is giving a free speed boost to its Kansas City commercial Internet customers that are served by its HFC-based cable network.

Made possible via its DOCSIS 3.0 upgrade, SureWest will be able to offer Internet packages of up to 25 and 50 Mbps for those SMBs that aren't served today by fiber or for multi-site businesses that have locations that aren't in reach of the service provider's fiber yet. SureWest said the speed upgrades for existing customers happened automatically beginning Dec. 1.

The actual speed updates will vary depending on the customer's existing service package, meaning that customers with up to 10 Mbps connections were upgraded to 15 Mbps at no additional charge. While the majority of customers won't need any new equipment, customers that subscribed to a 15 Mbps package or higher might need a new modem. The modem update will be provided free of charge.

Given the intense competition for business customers from other CLECs and larger ILECs, SureWest's move is all about attracting new customers and keeping existing ones happy. Offering new promotions like automatic speed upgrades will definitely serve in SureWest's favor among Kansas City-area businesses whose contracts may be up for renewal.  

For more:
- see the release

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