Time Warner opts for DOCSIS 3.0

Time Warner today became one of the last major US cable providers to offer some form of DOCSIS 3.0-based Internet service. The initial deployment gives customers 50Mbps downloads and 5Mbps uploads for the same $100 monthly rate as similar offerings from Comcast and others. Early service is so far only available in parts of New York City, including Manhattan below 79th Street, parts of Queens, and Staten Island.

The company didn't provide a timetable for when it would roll out DOCSIS 3.0 to other cities but doesn't make mention of bandwidth caps.

Time Warner's decision to start unmetered DOCSIS 3.0 service in New York is already believed prompted by the growing presence in the city of Verizon's FiOS service, which hasn't needed caps to date. The company has been conducting trials of capped Internet access but primarily in areas using old DOCSIS 1.0 service, where bandwidth is more of an issue, and in those areas where little competition exists.

Time Warner is rumored to have threatened to withhold DOCSIS 3.0 in the near-term after backlash over the capped service, although since then it's now suspected that some larger cities in New York state will get the faster service as well. The provider had faced criticism in trial areas for doubling the practical cost of unlimited Internet service and for setting caps that challengers believe are meant to discourage customers from using Internet-based, carrier-independent services like Hulu or iTunes instead of more lucrative cable TV subscriptions.

By Electronista Staff

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