Comcast’s PowerBoost Variable Download Speed Service Launches

This was mentioned by Comcast president Steve Burke earlier this week at the D Conference, and has officially launched in New England area: The new PowerBoost service doubles download speeds for subscribers when extra capacity is available on the network, and is available free to customers who already subscribe to the company’s 6mbps and 8mbps services.
Because the network is rarely maxed out, Comcast usually has excess capacity. PowerBoost allows Comcast customers to take advantage of the extra bandwidth when it’s available. But when it’s not, the networks still provides the lower guaranteed rates.
BostonGlobe: When a user downloads a large file like a movie or video game, that acceleration — from 6-to-12 mbps or from 8-to-16 mbps — would mean a significant reduction in time spent waiting. For customers on the cheaper tier, the time to download a one-hour episode of ABC’s “Lost” would be cut in half from 4 minutes and 29 seconds to 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

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