Cox is upgrading its network to 1Ghz equipment across its entire customer base. The upgrade (and this is even before we get into DOCSIS 3.0) will allow the cable provider to increase standard definition channels from 100 to 200+ and HD channels past 100+. It will also allow the provider to offer tiers of 25Mbps/4Mbps for relatively little dough. A Cox exec recently stated that between 1Ghz upgrades, switched digital video (which frees bandwidth by holding unwatched channels at the edge router), and DOCSIS 3.0, cable is "on the cusp" of conquering bandwidth worries "for at least the next 10 years." According to MultiChannel News, Cox says they'll upgrade an additional 12,000 miles of its network to 1 GHz this year, reaching 80% of homes by the end of 2010.

Of course, Cox will also be helped by their announcement last week that on top of monthly caps, the carrier intends to "de-prioritize" non time sensitive traffic -- particularly of the P2P variety. They've also adopted a new RIAA plan to terminate the connections of users who repeatedly traffic in copyrighted content.