Comcast to Increase Internet Speeds

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Comcast is increasing Internet speeds for many customers in the Northeastern United States — although Philly still has to wait a while for the ultra-fast 2-gigabit-per-second service that has debuted in select markets.

The cable and Internet giant said it’s Blast! tier of customers will go from 105 megabits per second (Mbps) to 150 Mbps. It’s also introducing a Performance Pro speed tier that will bump many triple-play customers from 25 Mbps to 75 Mbps.

A Comcast rep declined to provide specifics regarding how many customers will get an upgrade but said it will affect “the vast majority” of new and existing subscribers.

Although the 2-gigabit speeds are available in regions like Atlanta, San Francisco and South Florida, Philly isn’t set to get it until the end of the year. Comcast boasts that the service is “at least double what anyone else provides.”

Speed increases will take effect in early August.

There’s a few ways to get the new speeds. Some will simply need to restart their modems while others will have to get a free upgrade. (Comcast says it will reach out to customers who need to trade in their modems.)

Kevin Casey, president of Comcast Cable’s Northeast Division says the company has “invested tens of billions of dollars” in an effort to create a widely available broadband network.