Comcast increases internet speeds for most customers

Comcast announced March 7 that it is increasing the speeds of some of its most popular Xfinity internet service tiers – including Blast and Performance Pro – for new and existing customers in the Northeast Division, which includes 14 northeastern states from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. The increases are at no additional cost and underscore the company's leadership in delivering some of the fastest broadband internet speeds, including gigabit-speed services for both residential and business customers.

Speed increases will vary based on a customers' current speed subscription, but the vast majority will see an increase of 50 Mbps. The changes include: Blast tier download speeds increasing from 200 Mbps to 250 Mbps; Performance Pro tier download speeds increasing from 100 to 150 Mbps; Performance tier download speeds increasing from 25 to 60 Mbps; and Performance Starter tier download speeds increasing from 10 to 15 Mbps.

"With new devices coming online for consumers every day, we're committed to offering the fastest speeds, and the best features and overall experience so our customers can take advantage of the technology available," said Kevin Casey, president of Comcast's Northeast Division. "We've increased speeds 17 times in the last 17 years, and continue to invest to deliver a fast, innovative and reliable experience in and out of the home."

New and existing customers can expect to see enhanced speeds this month. Most customers will automatically be upgraded to the new speeds, and will simply need to restart their modems. Comcast will notify customers who may need to upgrade their modems to receive the new speeds. Those who lease modems from Comcast and require an upgrade can do so for no additional charge by requesting a self-install kit or by visiting an Xfinity Store or service center. Those owning modems requiring an upgrade can purchase a new one or lease an Xfinity modem, which includes Xfinity xFi, a digital dashboard that lets customers personalize, manage and control their home WiFi experience.

The announcement follows a number of moves the company has made to enhance its high-speed internet offerings. Comcast also provides Xfinity internet customers with complimentary access to more than 18 million Xfinity WiFi hotspots nationwide. Customers can select "xfinitywifi" from the list of available networks on their laptops or mobile devices and enter their Xfinity ID or email and password.