Cable One Prepping 1-Gig Rollout in NewWave Systems

Cable One said it is laying the groundwork for 1 Gig speeds in NewWave Communications systems acquired last year that added about 214,000 residential primary service units, a unit that includes video, voice and broadband, to its base.

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To get ready for the 1-Gig launch, Cable One said it is in the process of supporting 32-channel bonding in the NewWave markets, which parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas. Cable One said it plans to invest up to $60 million over three years on network upgrades and other enhancements in the NewWave markets.

About 95% of Cable One’s legacy footprint has access to its GigaONE service, which uses DOCSIS 3.0 technology. Cable One has been selling that service, which pairs a downstream of up to 1 Gbps with a 50 Mbps upstream capability, for $175 per month.

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Cable One didn’t announce a specific timetable for 1-Gig launches in the NewWave systems, but said it has already been doubling available speeds in the majority of those markets, offering downstream speeds up to 200 Mbps.

“As customers continue to stream, download, and connect across multiple devices in their homes, we know that speed is key in satisfying this growing demand,” Julie Seff, vice president of residential services for Cable One, said in a statement. “Doubling speeds as well as launching Gigabit service will create more customer value and provide a superior high-speed internet experience for our customers.”