Rumor has it that GCI is talking about a significant speed increase in their cable modem products. The word is that speeds as high as 10Mb/s down with 1Mb/s up are scheduled to hit sometime soon. I assume that this means GCI is again pioneering the new cable modem standards as they have done in the past. Comcast recently announced their plans at CES 2008 to make 100Gb/s internet access via their cable network using DOCSIS 3.0. Knowing GCI, they’ve already got DOCSIS 3.0 in place and are just waiting to pull the trigger.

We’re all waiting GCI… don’t disappoint us.


GCI was the first in the USA to launch DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) back in 2003 which significantly improved performance, security and reliability. I’m fairly certain they launched with an almost “beta” version of the first DOCSIS standard and lead the industry in adopting the standard. Since then, they helped pushed the standard forward with subsequent upgrades to the lastest versions of the DOCSIS standard. The new 3.0 version is claimed to enable up to 160Gb/s over the existing coax cable networks.

I seriously doubt GCI will even consider opening the pipe to 160Gb/s, they’ll need bandwidth to grow the HDTV programming - so we’ll be lucky if the 10Gb/s speeds are really coming soon. Of course, I have no official proof of this rumor…but, we can all dream that GCI is listening and will roll out high quality, high speed and disentangled Internet access for Alaskans. What this state needs is a good ISP-only solution. The days of bundled services are on the decline. Consumers are smart enough to know they are being taken for a ride when they have to buy long-distance minutes to get highspeed internet options. Come on! Seriously, when is the last time you paid for long distance calls?

Give us a wide open (read: no usage limits) 10Mb/s down with 5 Mb/s up for $100/mo and I would be sold. Bundle with GSM mobile call and data services with 2Mb/s or higher for another $75 and you can maintain that $175-$200 price point that GCI so desperately wants from each subscriber. Fine, just give me what I want, not what you want me to buy.

I’ll skip the rant and close by saying that I am hopeful and excited about the rumor of real performance increases. We’re all waiting GCI… don’t disappoint us.

Update:
I just caught the ADN report about GCI pumping $100M into their “network”, which will likely be focused on their need to gain cellular territory now that AT&T bought out Dobson. GCI is going to have to go it alone against AT&T and ACS. Good luck!

http://www.adn.com/money/story/262518.html