Comcast announces 2Gbps service — at utterly ridiculous price

[Ichingcarpenter]

Google Fiber’s introduction across the United States has sparked two tendencies in the search company’s competitor ISPs — bleating to Congress about the need to restrict such services, and rapid cost-cutting on their own product tiers to keep them competitive with what Google offers. Occasionally we get flashes of a third option, as when AT&T offers to cut its rates to match Google, provided you allow the company full access to everything you do online. Actual service offers that would beat Google, however, have been few and far between. Comcast is one of the first companies to step up to that plate, with a new 2Gbps service — provided you can afford some truly eye-popping fees.

According to the terms and conditions on its own website, Comcast’s new 2Gbps service will cost you $300 a month with a mandatory two-year contract. A $159/month price will be available in certain markets in the midwest, provided customers sign a three-year contract. Customers will need to live within 1/3 of a mile of a Comcast fiber network deployment and will be charged a $500 installation fee along with a $500 service activation fee.

Google Fiber, in contrast, offers a typically waived $300 service fee if you sign a one-year contract and $70 per month.


http://www.extremetech.com/internet/209800-comcast-announces-2gbps-service-at-utterly-ridiculous-price#.VaTwc6oY8sE.reddit

[Man from Pickens]

1. no love for Comcast

but 2Gbps is an enterprise-level connection and it's not at all uncommon for businesses to pay more than that

I remember paying $1500/month for a T1 line (1.5Mbps) back in 1997

[marmar]

2. "Americans pay more for slower Internet"

When it comes to Internet speeds, the U.S. lags behind much of the developed world.

That's one of the conclusions from a new report by the Open Technology Institute at the New America Foundation, which looked at the cost and speed of Internet access in two dozen cities around the world.

Clocking in at the top of the list was Seoul, South Korea, where Internet users can get ultra-fast connections of roughly 1000 megabits per second for just $30 a month. The same speeds can be found in Hong Kong and Tokyo for $37 and $39 per month, respectively. ..................(more)

http://money.cnn.com/2014/10/31/technology/internet-speeds/

[snooper2]

3. ridiculously low LOL

Go call Verizon Business and ask them what a 1GIGE DIA connection will cost you-

LOL-

Anyone who thinks they need 2GIG to their house is either stupid or running a porn site

[MineralMan]

4. I can't imagine needing that speed for a home system.

Last edited Tue Jul 14, 2015, 10:21 AM - Edit history (1)

That's enterprise level speed. Completely unnecessary for residential use, but very valuable for business use. I doubt Comcast would even install it in a home.

Their prices for normal speed and bandwidth are outrageous enough already, though.

[jwirr]

5. Wonder if gamers like my grandsons will want that regardless of the price?

[MineralMan]

6. Most likely, since they don't have a clue as to what they need.

Kids know how to use this stuff, but don't understand how it works beyond their game controller or keyboard.

[jwirr]

7. Absolutely. I can't wait. They are going to learn about budgets or else.

[Prism]

8. Should be unnecessary for games

Right now, we use Comcast's 50 mps service in my household. Two computers, one laptop, four consoles, a smart tv, a roku, phones, tablets, etc, and we're both gamers.

No slowdown or significant latency, even when one of us is streaming an HD movie.

2 gigs seems crazy excessive. If the price came down, sure, why not. But unless your grandson is playing on a professional level (he games for a living), it should be easy for his parents to say no =)

[jwirr]

9. Our household is very similar. Hopefully they will agree with you. I will go broke sharing costs

with them if not.

[EL34x4]

10. Eventually, consumers will want it.

4K Ultra High-Def TVs have dropped below the $2,000 mark for 65" screens. Smaller screens are much cheaper. Just a couple of years ago, they were selling for $7-8k. Best Buy is pushing all the "old" 1080p HDTVs out the door at fire sale prices to make room for the latest and greatest. Amazon Prime and Netflix are streaming in 4K for certain programs, many more coming.

Streaming and UHDTV is where it's at now and this is going to require higher speeds and greater bandwidth. Although I don't think many consumers are willing to shell out $300 for a monthly internet bill quite yet, this too will come down in price.

[lpbk2713]

11. "It goes all the way to eleven."

When I think of anyone who believes they actually need a
2 Gig internet connection I have to think of that old line.