Comcast plans on bringing multi-gig web speeds to 34 cities throughout the US by the top of this 12 months, and can later increase its attain to greater than 50 million households by the top of 2025. In accordance to a press launch, the corporate has already began rolling out 2-gig speeds over its broadband community in Colorado Springs, CO; Augusta, GA; Panama Metropolis Seaside, FL; and Philadelphia, PA.

Clients in these cities will even get to reap the benefits of add speeds that Comcast says are 5 to 10 occasions sooner than what it presently affords. The add speeds seem to max out at 200Mbps, even with the brand new Gigabit x2 plan, however Comcast intends to vary that. It’s launching multi-gig symmetrical speeds subsequent 12 months, which is able to allow multi-gig speeds for each downloads and uploads.

Whereas symmetrical uploads and downloads are anticipated with fiber optic web, cable has lagged behind. However with DOCSIS 4.0, a high-bandwidth broadband customary that permits for as much as 10Gbps downloads and 6Gbps uploads, suppliers like Comcast can allow symmetrical connections over cable. Comcast is presently within the strategy of transitioning to the brand new customary and achieved 4Gbps add and obtain speeds throughout a check in January.

Despite the fact that firms like AT&T, Frontier, Verizon, and Google are increasing their fiber networks, the service continues to be largely restricted to customers situated in metro areas. Symmetrical speeds on cable networks may very well be a welcome possibility for these in want of a speedier connection, however who aren’t in areas the place fiber is offered.

For now, clients situated in Colorado Springs, Augusta, Panama Metropolis Seaside, and Philadelphia, gained’t need to improve their modem to entry Comcast’s sooner (however not symmetrical) 2-gig speeds. Comcast Cable EVP Elad Nafshi instructed Fierce Telecom that after Comcast does roll out its symmetrical providers subsequent 12 months, clients might want to improve their modem.

Disclosure: Comcast is an investor in Vox Media, The Verge’s dad or mum firm.