Gigabit Pro: Comcast Internet Offering Delivers up to 2 Gbps

In the previous parts of this series, we learned about the markets where AT&T’s (T) U-verse with AT&T GigaPower are available. We also learned about some of the markets where the 1 Gbps (gigabits per second) high-speed Internet services from both AT&T and Google’s (GOOGL) Google Fiber will become available in the near term.

Comcast (CMCSA) is expected to provide its new high-speed, fiber-based Internet service in some key markets beginning in May 2015. The service is called Gigabit Pro. According to a Comcast press release dated April 21, 2015, “Gigabit Pro is a symmetrical, 2 Gigabit-per-second (Gbps) service that will be delivered via a fiber-to-the-home solution.”

Gigabit Pro will boost Comcast’s Internet services proposition significantly in 2015. As you can see in the above chart, the Gigabit Pro service can provide much faster speeds than those offered by Verizon (VZ) FiOS, AT&T GigaPower, and Google Fiber.

All of these Internet services are fiber-based. Comcast expects Gigabit Pro coverage to reach eighteen million households by the end of 2015.

Comcast is planning other initiatives to boost Internet speeds. In the same press release, the company says, “We hope to begin rolling out DOCSIS 3.1 in early 2016, and when fully deployed, it will mean almost every customer in our footprint will be able to receive gigabit speeds over our existing network (a combination of both fiber and coax).”

This would significantly marginalize the prospects of telecom companies’ DSL (digital subscriber line) offerings, at least, those within Comcast’s reach.

If you want diversified exposure to Comcast, you can invest in the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY). This ETF held ~6.2% in the company on March 31, 2015. You can get more diversified exposure to the cable provider by investing in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY). This ETF held ~0.8% in Comcast on the same date.