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Comcast Bringing Metropolitan WiMAX To Subscribers

Posted by timothy on from the let-a-thousand-flowers-bloom dept.

RickRussellTX writes "Comcast plans to offer 4 megabits/sec WiMAX services to customers in Portland, Oregon starting tomorrow. Branded as 'Comcast High-Speed 2go' and '4G,' the service will require a $44.99 per month subscription in addition to existing Comcast home service. For $69.99 they will offer a dual-mode card with access to both Comcast WiMAX and Sprint's national 3G wireless network. Future rollouts are planned for Chicago, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Say what you will about Comcast (and I know many Slashdot readers have plenty to say about Comcast), this is a daring attempt to bypass entrenched cell phone companies with a direct-to-consumer wireless service."

4 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. 4G? by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Informative

    As I recall, a 4G system is defined by, among other things, 10ms latency, 100Mb/s nominal throughput and an all-IP network. Mobile WiMAX is all-IP, but 4Mb/s is a long way away from 100Mb/s. HSPA, which is 3.5G or 3.75G depending on the implementation goes from 7.2Mb/s to 42Mb/s.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  2. Clear aleady has service... by Zeelan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    When I read this and see the location I just have to think that they are trying to do something as an answer to clear. Portland, OR, has had WiMAX service in the form of Clear now for a few months, without the need to tie it to a home account.

  3. I'll stick with Quest, thanks. by leftie · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Cheaper, better service, no threats of filters, uploading caps, and they're the only major US telecom to say no to Bush wiretaps.

  4. Not Bypassing the Wireless Carriers by saterdaies · · Score: 5, Informative

    Most likely this service isn't bypassing the wireless carriers. Comcast (along with TimeWarner and others) are partial owners of a company called Clearwire which Sprint owns roughly half of. Clearwire has been rolling out WiMAX as part of Sprint's 4G strategy.

    So, while it might be being sold under the Comcast name, you're essentially buying service from Clear (http://www.clear.com/) run by Clearwire (http://clearwire.com) which is (half) owned by Sprint.