Comcast seems stepping up its game as Google Fiber heads to Atlanta. Comcast recently boasts its 1Gbps speed to the residents, higher than Google's. However, users may be forced to sign a 3-year contract to enjoy the speed.
In Atlanta, Google Fiber is reportedly making a scene already by its relatively cheap internet service, although it will officially enter the market later this year or early next. However, the area has been known as one of Comcast's growing usage cap 'trial' markets. Thus, this makes Comcast compete with Google in terms of price.
According to the report by Tech Dirt, Comcast announced its new competing service featuring 1Gbps speed for $70 a month (the same as Google Fiber's regular price). But unlike Google, users will be forced themselves to sign a 3-year contract before they get to enjoy the said service. If customers opt for no contract, they will have to pay twice ($140) as much with a data cap of 300GB per month and $10 per 50 GB for overage fee.
Comcast's announcement: "That's Comcast's attempt at price competition, given that Atlanta is one of the markets Google Fiber has targeted for deployment. Comcast tells me that while the $70 option will not feature the company's usage caps (which are being "trialed" in the Atlanta market) users on the no-contract, $140 plan will face usage caps. They also have the option of paying $35 per month extra to avoid said caps."
Comcast is really competing with competing with Google Fiber as Comcast reportedly circulating flyers urging locals not to fall for the 'hype' of ultra-fast, relatively cheap Google fiber service. According to The Verge, Comcast is afraid to compete of Google Fiber. The publication mentions that they invented new data caps so they could charge residents $30 to get rid of them.
BGR reports that Comcast is using DOCSIS 3.1 technology to be able to deliver the service. This means that they are not building from scratch unlike Google Fiber. The new gigabyte internet service is rolling out in Atlanta and Nashville in the first half of this year. They are also considering Chicago, Detroit and Miami later this year.
If you are a resident in Atlanta, would you care for Comcast's new internet service promo? Or will you try the relatively cheap Google Fiber?
