Comcast Testing Out Prepaid Internet Access
Just like prepaid wireless, the Comcast offering doesn’t require a contract. Instead, you fork over $70 for a “starter kit” — modem, coaxial cable, Ethernet cable, power cord, user guide and activation code for 30 days of service.
After that, you can prepay for service in chunks of either seven days ($15) or 30 days ($45), which is slightly less than many Xfinity customers are paying for contract service.
However, there is a trade-off. The download speed is only around 3 Mbps, not terribly slow, but not exactly lightning fast either. It’s half the 6 Mbps of the lowest Xfinity tier promoted to contract customers. The FCC recently updated its definition of “broadband” to be “4 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream.”
Right now, the service is only being offered to people in Philadelphia, and certain areas of New Jersey and Delaware.
Comcast Pitches Pre-Paid Internet Service
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