Time Warner Cable (Finally) Launches DOCSIS 3.0 But only in New York City, as carrier lags behind other operators... Thursday Sep 24 2009 11:07 EDT Time Warner Cable has finally launched the long-awaited upgrades to DOCSIS 3.0 technology in parts of New York City. While Time Warner Cable is lagging behind other cable operators in terms of upgrading to the faster technology (largely because of limited competition in many markets), Verizon's recent contract with NYC to bring FiOS to all boroughs by 2014 apparently forced the company's hand. According to Time Warner Cable, they're now offering a 50 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream for $99.95 per month. Given Time Warner Cable's rush toward metered billing, the company was roundly criticized by users for pushing higher prices on consumers, yet failing to upgrade the network, most of which remains on older DOCSIS 1.1 technology. Rumblings of the tier have been ongoing for much of the year, Cisco engineers telling us they were already testing the technology for the company in New York City earlier this Spring. According to Time Warner Cable, the faster 50 Mbps tier is available starting today in Manhattan (below 79th Street), Staten Island and Queens (specifically Fresh Meadows, Forest Hills and South Flushing). According to the company, the faster speed will be available across their entire NYC service area by Spring 2010. Small carriers have beaten Time Warner Cable to the punch in terms of the upgrades, with companies like Midcontinent Communications delivering the techology to Fargo long before Time Warner Cable could be bothered to upgrade Manhattan. Larger carriers, like Comcast, say they'll have 85% of their network wired by the end of this year, with all markets upgraded by the end of 2010. Time Warner Cable, in contrast, has only one launch under its belt and has given no timeline for further deployments. Unofficially, one insider tells us you'll very likely see at least two or three more DOCSIS 3.0 launches sometime during the next three to four months including Buffalo in November, Syracuse in December, and Albany in January. "Time Warner Cable is a proven innovator, reinforcing that it’s the best choice overall for residential and business telecommunications needs," company executive Howard Szarfarc proclaims in a prepared statement. "Through our advanced fiber-optic network, we deliver cutting-edge products that speak to the growing needs of both the tech-savvy user and multi-media families who simply want the fastest speeds right now," he says. If by "proven innovator" Mr. Szarfarc means "late to market with an expected technology already deployed by countless other operators," he's dead on. Fortunately for Time Warner Cable they really don't have to innovate, given the majority of their markets see only limited competition from phone companies offering slower DSL. While Time Warner Cable sees some pressure from Verizon FiOS in New York, even there they've still got time to upgrade and lock users into long term contracts before Verizon completes their FTTH build. |
y2julioBachatero y Que? Premium Member join:2003-03-19 Garden City, NY |
y2julio
Premium Member
2009-Sep-24 10:23 am
Parts of NYC?I'm assuming that means Manhattan only. | |
| Tokidoki Premium Member join:2002-08-26 South Richmond Hill, NY 1 edit |
Tokidoki
Premium Member
2009-Sep-24 10:23 am
Now how do I get in on this....Is their only plan 50/5 for 100 bux? I guess I can wait or call them but this is tasty news until I can get FiOS edit: Sweet! Just out of reach in Manhattan! Go figure | |
| baineschile2600 ways to live Premium Member join:2008-05-10 Sterling Heights, MI 1 edit |
FinallyThis should have been done well before the Fios deployment.
TW does still have an advantage though; they are the main footprint there, and thus should be able to lock a lot of people into long term D3 bundles before Fios is finished wiring. | |
| PhoenixDownFIOS is Awesome Premium Member join:2003-06-08 Fresh Meadows, NY |
How much is the 50/5 internet only package from FIOS?I wonder if its in line. | |
| | PhoenixDown |
Re: How much is the 50/5 internet only package from FIOS?Found the answer to my own question: » www22.verizon.com/reside ··· undlesab * Phone: Verizon Freedom Essentials * FiOS Internet 15/5 Mbps * FiOS TV Essentials So for a few dollars more they include TV and Unlimited Phone. The higher bandwidth would be nice... but I may wait for a promo from TWC to make it more competitive. | |
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to PhoenixDown
DSLExtreme offers 50/20 FiOS-based service for $100. Verizon offers it on their own for $95 in some markets.
I'd definitely get 50/20 FiOS over 50/5 TWC. Then again, I'd probably just get 20/20... | |
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StevenB Premium Member join:2000-10-27 New York, NY |
StevenB
Premium Member
2009-Sep-24 11:03 am
99 Bucks a MonthCalled up, was told $99.99 additional for 50/5 - this out of Astoria Queens.
I politely hung up the phone. No thanks, i'll keep my Verizon DSL until fios hits town. | |
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FHNYC
Anon
2009-Sep-24 11:23 am
Re: 99 Bucks a MonthForest Hills is on the list? Where can I pick up Cablemodem to swap this one out? Thank you. | |
| | | StevenB Premium Member join:2000-10-27 New York, NY ·Charter
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StevenB
Premium Member
2009-Sep-24 11:37 am
Re: 99 Bucks a Monthyes you can get it. Basically call up 1-877-TWC-2805 - they'll ask some questions. probably a tech will come out and install it, or they might allow you to get one from the queens center mall location. bring in your old one, for a new docsis 3.0 one | |
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Queens RR
Anon
2009-Sep-24 11:13 am
Got it in queensIm in queens... Flushing. Just ordered it.. | |
| | herog join:2004-10-31 Flushing, NY |
herog
Member
2009-Sep-24 9:17 pm
Re: Got it in queenspost your test speed at 9pm please.
want to see how fast really it is. | |
| | | hayabusa3303Over 200 mph Premium Member join:2005-06-29 Florence, SC |
Re: Got it in queensHA just as fast as dail-up speed or teh same modem they have now thats on 1.1 | |
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tmc8080
Member
2009-Sep-24 11:36 am
buried deep in the bowels of customer serviceapparently, they never took the time to update their website other than the glitz of announcing that they have the service available in around 55% of the NYC. A quick glance at their pricing will show that they did not update rates/terms of service: » www.timewarnercable.com/ ··· new.htmlI'd still like to know if they're going to copycat cablevision and charge a hefty $330 activation fee upfront? If not, then good luck with cablevision keeping up the charade of gouging customers for the upgraded technology. | |
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iansltx
Member
2009-Sep-24 11:59 am
Re: buried deep in the bowels of customer serviceCV knows their product is for power users and charges as such. If people want it badly enough they pay for it.
Additionally, CV's $100-a-month tier is 101 Mbps down, 15 Mbps up. Their Boost tier is 30+ down and 5 up for $60ish, and there's no setup fee on that... | |
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tmc8080
Member
2009-Sep-24 12:42 pm
Re: buried deep in the bowels of customer servicesaid by iansltx:CV knows their product is for power users and charges as such. If people want it badly enough they pay for it. Additionally, CV's $100-a-month tier is 101 Mbps down, 15 Mbps up. Their Boost tier is 30+ down and 5 up for $60ish, and there's no setup fee on that... That's right.. the 50mbit speeds are something telcos and cablecos alike were promising way back in 2002-2003. Then Cable and RBOCs went on this 5 year detour and went to war with their customer base over consumption, deployment and pricing (with a couple of mergers thrown in for good measure). They are first getting around to it now.. I'm content to sit on the sidelines until it pushes competition further to lowering all broadband pricing (ie more megabits for lower price), and yeah I'm not holding my breath on this one.. As long as our ability to afford broadband at a decent value adjusted for lower middle class incomes vs inflation. Thanks to high energy prices and industry bailouts, the middle class got handed a class demotion to lower middle class-- so I'll use that as the fairness test. | |
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RolteCThe Need for Speed join:2001-05-20 New York, NY |
RolteC
Member
2009-Sep-24 11:38 am
Sweet!.. but.....That is awesome to know. They are providing it in areas with high population, mostly those areas where everyone has defected to FiOS, or in areas not yet covered by FiOS.
I am in Fresh Meadows, so I could order this, but why? For the same price per month, actually $5 less per month, I would get 24/7 speed of 50/20. Not only 50/5 Road Runner would now give.
So no thank you.
For those that can't yet get FiOS, this is a good deal either way, so jump on it.
Hopefully the areas without FiOS don't get over subscribed again. I guess we will all have to sit and watch the speed tests and new threads in the Road Runner forum. | |
| fxt107 join:2003-01-18 Mechanicsburg, PA |
fxt107
Member
2009-Sep-24 11:51 am
Will it be different than Turbo/Extreme in PrimetimeJust ordered it - can't swap it at Queens locations is what I heard. My only concern is if it will have the same slowdowns that Turbo and Extreme customers feel during primetime.
It will not be work it if I get 2 down between 6 and midnight.
Which is what happened with both my Turbo and Extreme options. | |
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iansltx
Member
2009-Sep-24 12:00 pm
Re: Will it be different than Turbo/Extreme in PrimetimeTheoretically since channel bonding will be used the minimum speeds should be at worst 3-4x those of a single-channel solution.
Realistically though, with more channels dedicated to HSI TWC should be able to provide advertised speeds on their service with DOCSIS 3. | |
| | | tubbynetreminds me of the danse russe MVM join:2008-01-16 Gilbert, AZ |
Re: Will it be different than Turbo/Extreme in Primetimesaid by iansltx:Theoretically since channel bonding will be used the minimum speeds should be at worst 3-4x those of a single-channel solution. Realistically though, with more channels dedicated to HSI TWC should be able to provide advertised speeds on their service with DOCSIS 3. additionally, as i understand it, the new d3 modems (sb6120 and the sci/atl dpc3000) have 1ghz tuners in them. if twc has upgraded their plant to handle frequencies above 860mhz, they can put several new docsis carriers in the higher frequency band so as to avoid the standard congestion. this is something similar to what cox has done. typically, (at least in the arizona market), 573 and 579mhz are the usual downstream carriers (though there are some different ones thrown in there as one-offs). for the new d3 extreme tiers, downstream carriers are deployed over 840mhz (i'm not sure the exact upper limit in the frequencies used in the market for cable). this allows for fresh channels to bond to and keeps those paying top doller a little happier. q. | |
| | | | fxt107 join:2003-01-18 Mechanicsburg, PA |
fxt107
Member
2009-Sep-30 10:31 pm
Re: Will it be different than Turbo/Extreme in PrimetimeHas anyone already installed it? Can you shut off their wifi and use your own router? And any speeds yet?? In primetime? | |
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iansltx
Member
2009-Sep-24 12:04 pm
Any bets on when TWC will roll out this service elsewhere?I'm betting that TWC rolls this service out to all FiOS areas by the end of 2011, though I'm sure Verizon will have upgraded speeds by then to make TWC's 50/5 seem anemic (as if its upload speed isn't already).
For other fiber-powered areas, I'm guessing they'll hit those areas by the end of 2012. Everywhere else will probably not get any upgrades until a competitor lays fiber...which might be awhile.
Which means that U-Verse markets like San Antonio and Austin probably have awhile to wait, though 15/2 is available right now for $50/month, better than your average TWC market... | |
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TWC 512?I was just looking at TWC package for RR in Glendale and i see they still use 512 to 1 UP? WTH are they thinking man i am happy i don't live in NYC or Houston TX Ex TWC network. I have to Thank Comcast for what they give me even though i still don't have the upgrade to 16/2 yet here in the North side of Denver. Why don't TWC wake up and see what the other cable outlets are doing? | |
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hs
Anon
2009-Sep-24 12:50 pm
Re: TWC 512?My Road Runner Standard upload is is at 384kb up. Which is pathetic. This is in Rochester. | |
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Re: TWC 512?said by hs :
My Road Runner Standard upload is is at 384kb up. Which is pathetic. This is in Rochester. WOW That is sad. The last time i saw that was when i had RR in Houston and they even gave us a 512 way back when. | |
| | | Matt3All noise, no signal. Premium Member join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC |
Matt3 to hs
Premium Member
2009-Sep-24 5:35 pm
to hs
said by hs :
My Road Runner Standard upload is is at 384kb up. Which is pathetic. This is in Rochester. Same here, pathetic. | |
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to MTBikerChris
Are there any other speed tiers or is Time Warner keeping 512 upload standard? That's why I switched to Fios here in Queens and I'm sure others will too as get the option.
No fights over who's lagging the internet at 8:30 PM when you have 15 (really 25) mbps upload. | |
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ds5v50 join:2003-01-22 Fremont, OH |
ds5v50
Member
2009-Sep-24 1:51 pm
Upgrades Maybe that is why We are not seeing speed updates.. They are spreading Docsis 3.0...........
That wasa joke by the way.
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| fta354 join:2003-11-19 New York, NY |
fta354
Member
2009-Sep-24 1:57 pm
Joke...50/5 for $99.95 is a joke. Right now I have 35/35 for $64.95. | |
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ScooterMcGee
Anon
2009-Sep-24 2:17 pm
Wideband = RipoffThese scumbags are just milking the fact that FIOS isn't ruling NYC just yet. My parents have FIOS 25 miles away from Manhattan and get such better download speeds for a much more competitive price. TWC needs a tier in-between Turbo and Wideband to make it more reasonable, because the only reason I want more speed is for the upload factor (slingbox). I really have no need for 50 MBPS down and $99/month just isn't happening. The Federal Reserve and Time Warner might think the recession is over but not in my house!
TWC: Everyone hates you so start, at least, trying to help your customers, and provide competent customer service. Otherwise, just like me, all of your customers will defect to your competitor. I found it to be priceless when I was returning my girlfriends equipment to your store, there was not one person happy with your service and not one person with a good thing to say about TWC. What does that say about management? | |
| penberth join:2009-07-09 North Tonawanda, NY
1 recommendation |
Buffalo in November....I am interested in that. They have to come out with a better price than 50/5 for $100. I am not interested in $100 / month Internet bill. Especially since I am getting 15/2 for $29.95 promo deal for a year. | |
| ofcounsel Premium Member join:2003-07-17 New York, NY |
Manhattan Upper West Side 86th StreetI just called Time Warner and they said my location would be upgraded by the middle of October. | |
| watice join:2008-11-01 New York, NY |
watice
Member
2009-Sep-24 5:38 pm
widebandjust ordered, in e. elmhurst. apparantly they need to send a tech out to upgrade the modem, because there is no self install because i'm a noob. phail. | |
| DareiusIt's a beautiful day in the neighborhood Premium Member join:2002-11-12 Elmhurst, NY |
Dareius
Premium Member
2009-Sep-24 7:23 pm
Queens speed testsNot touching this until I see the speed tests. Especially in Queens during 8pm and on. | |
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zQ join:2003-12-14 Flushing, NY 1 edit |
zQ
Member
2009-Sep-24 7:50 pm
What. A. Joke.This won't stop me from switching to FIOS when it gets here.
TWC's problem right now is not download speed, it is upload speed--yet even for a so-called DOCSIS 3.0 connection, you only get a measly 5 mbps. We can't even manage 1 mbps on the standard service.
On top of that, a more pressing issue than just speed is the quality of the service. Just looking at the posts in the Road Runner forum, specifically just for New York, there is a record of widespread service degradation for a long time now (years!). It has gotten so bad that many of us, who are locked to TWC because of location, cannot wait for FIOS to be available so that we can switch.
Perhaps only then will TWC get a wake up call that customers are no longer going to take mediocre service and annual rate hikes any longer. Maybe then we can see them try to reclaim their former glory as one of the fastest and most reliable ISPs, at least in NYC. | |
| | herog join:2004-10-31 Flushing, NY |
herog
Member
2009-Sep-24 9:15 pm
Re: What. A. Joke.Lol.. called them up and it is available here in Queens Flushing area zip 11355.
No wonder when I called for my slowness speed, they keep saying it is being fixed, now came out with this joke plan, $99.95 for 50/5 is not worth at all. | |
| | | maartenaElmo Premium Member join:2002-05-10 Orange, CA |
maartena
Premium Member
2009-Sep-25 9:58 am
Re: What. A. Joke.I'm simply not paying that kind of money for internet, not unless I am winning the lottery that is.
$100 for a fast internet connection in these times of recession? I understand that they need to recover their cost, but this is rediculous.
Just to compare: In Amsterdam, a city where deploying any new technology is a major challenge due to the narrow, ancient streets, old homes hundreds of years old, all cables and equipment stowed away underground, and a steep 19% tax on everything.... they are still able to deliver this:
60/6 for EUR 40 ($55) 90/6 for EUR 50 ($70) 120/10 for EUR 70 ($100)
So for roughly HALF the price you get MORE speed, and for the $100 you pay here.... there you actually get some speed that may make it worth it. | |
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kd6caeP2p Shouldn't Be A Crime join:2001-08-27 Bakersfield, CA |
kd6cae
Member
2009-Sep-24 8:19 pm
Now if it'd only get deployed in former Adelphia areasI currently live in a former Adelphia area, and FIOS only exists in very small new development areas around here. Where it does exist, I envy anyone on it, as nothing comes close to the speeds of FIOS. Even TWC, which claims to offer 15/2, can't seem to provide any better than 1.2-1.3mbps upload speeds, despite the modem configured for 2mbps upstream. I'm honestly happy with downstream speeds, but why don't these ISP's realize upload is becoming more important. I myself do off site file backups, and uploading at just 145 kilobytes/sec is horrible when I know I should be getting 240 kilobytes/sec like others that have 2 megabits upstream that actually works fully. I hope we see Docsis 3 in Socal soon, otherwise when FIOS arrives, if it ever does, I'm gone! | |
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