Charter's Flagship Internet Service Bumped Up to 100Mbps

Posted 12/05/2011 at 12:00pm | by Paul Lilly

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Well this is refreshing. Charter took note of a study conducted earlier this year in which it was predicted that the number of devices connected to IP networks will double the global population in 2015, and used that as a springboard to announce faster service tiers for all but its most basic broadband package, and at no additional cost to the end user.

Charter's Internet Express tier is seeing its downstream speed increase from 12Mbps to 15Mbps, while the upstream transmission is tripling from 1Mbps to 3Mbps. Charter Internet Plus downloads are almost doubling, going from 18Mbps to 30Mbps, with upload speeds doubling from 2Mpbs to 4Mbps. And finally, Charter's Internet Max service is being renamed Internet Ultra100 to reflect the upgrade from 60Mbps downloads to 100Mbps downloads (uploads remain at 5Mbps).

"The Internet is changing the way we watch TV, communicate with our friends and family, and engage in social and professional networks. When you're posting content online, we know it's important to have a fast, reliable connection, and we're committed to enabling the rapid sharing of content," said Rich DiGeronimo, Charter Senior Vice President, Product and Strategy. "With multiple connected devices in your home, you don't have to make tradeoffs with Charter Internet. You can use multiple gadgets simultaneously, and enjoy a rich experience with each one. The power of the Internet continues to grow, and Charter delivers more speed than ever."

There's still the issue of data caps, and like others, Charter makes its customers wear them. According to Charter's Acceptable Use Policy for residential customers, Lite and Express customers are not to exceed 100GB per month, Plus or Max subscribers are capped at 250GB, and Ultra100 subscribers are allotted 500GB per month. After that, "Charter may, in its sole discretion, notify Customer of excessive use and (i) request Customer to employ corrective or self-limiting actions to comply with this provision; (ii) suspend or terminate Customer's Service account; or (iii) request that Customer subscribe to a version of the Service (such as a commercial grade Internet service, if appropriate) for use at higher data consumption levels that align with Customer's usage patterns."