Comcast CEO Brian Roberts stated three months ago that the cable giant had "plenty of capacity" for the next 6-12 months. The next step, of course, is to upgrade the network to DOCSIS 3.0; Roberts has stated 2007 is the targeted year for the upgrades to begin, though significant deployment realistically probably won't happen until 2008. Our forum users have sloshed through the rumors and Comcast tech whispers, with their best guess on the first trial speeds being something like 16Mbps/2Mbps this June, in Denver.

Though he doesn't say where, Comcast CTO Tony Werner this week again confirms trials will begin in 2007 with deployment in 2008. It's fairly obvious at this point that deployments will be targeted at regions where Verizon has already deployed FiOS residential fiber service. On top of DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades, the company will use node splits, digital optimization, "bandwidth hog" caps and switched digital video (SDV) to manage bandwidth.

Of course, users will need new modems, and there's the nagging fact that the standard hasn't been certified yet (though pre-cert deployments are occurring globally). A recent study predicted that by 2011, DOCSIS 3.0 CMTS use will be at 60% and DOCSIS 3.0 CPEs (modems, set-tops, eMTAs, etc.) will only be in 40% of cable broadband subscriber homes. Customers of less deep-pocketed providers like Charter probably shouldn't hold their breath.