Comcast Offers 105Mbit/s Internet Package; Spoils it with Data Cap

Comcast last week rolled-out a high-end Internet package that delivers up to 105Mbit/s of download speed, which for those not up to par with their megabits, is a huge number. That comes out to about 13.125MB/s, and means that a full 700MB CD ISO could be downloaded from a server (theoretically) in just about 53 seconds, or a typical streaming HD movie (2GB) in 2m 40s.

For this premium performance, it’s no surprise to see a premium price tag of $105 (cute pricing there, Comcast). Considering that many pay about $40 per month for a 10Mbit/s connection, the higher-end 105Mbit/s package seems to be a relative steal, especially if you have a household full of download fiends – if there wasn’t one major caveat.

As it turns out, Comcast is not raising the monthly download limit for those customers with this package. Instead, 105Mbit/s customers will be capped at the same 250GB (or Gbit, I can’t find a definitive answer), which means that while your download speed is huge, you’re only asking yourself to hit your cap faster. Let’s do some math.

105Mbit/s = 13.125MB/s
250GB ~= 256,000MB
256,000MB / 13.125 / 60 = 5.42 Hours

If maxed out, a customer could use their entire monthly bandwidth allowance in a mere five-and-a-half hours. The difficulty of maxing out a connection like this for that amount of time is going to be incredibly difficult, but the fact remains that it’d be possible. From what I recall, Comcast has stated in the past that less than 2% of its customers use more than 250GB per month, but wouldn’t that be the same percentage that would even consider a $105 package?

Even though I have a wimpy 7Mbit/s connection, I’d take it over Comcast’s high-end package any day, quite simply because I have unlimited bandwidth. It’s more the freedom than the actual need; it’s nice knowing that you have nothing to worry about and no overage fees to risk. I’d rather that than have to track my usage each month. What about you guys?

Extreme 105 sounds like a great deal at $105, but that price only counts if you get it as part of a Triple Play bundle with Comcast’s phone and TV services. The $105 is also a promotional price that may go up later. There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to take full advantage of all that bandwidth, either. Comcast is among the most enthusiastic bandwidth-throttlers among the major ISPs.