Suddenlink Ups Broadband To 36 Mbps In Two Texas Markets

Suddenlink Communications, as part of its ongoing DOCSIS 3.0 expansion, is boosting its maximum Internet download speed up to 36 Mbps in Lubbock and Midland, Texas.

The MAX 36.0 service, which offers a top upload speed of up to 2 Mbps, supersedes the MSO's previous top speed of 20 Mbps. The 36-Mbps service is $75 per month as a standalone product; $65 per month in a two-product bundle; and $60 per month as part of a triple-play bundle.

As of Dec. 31, Suddenlink had rolled out DOCSIS 3.0 to systems representing approximately 23% of basic video subs. The MSO provides service to 1.3 million residential customers in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.

In addition, in those two markets, Suddenlink next week plans to increase the speeds of its 1, 8 and 10 Mbps Internet service tiers to up to 1.5, 10 and 15 Mbps, respectively, and rename them accordingly: Suddenlink High Speed Internet 1.5, 10.0 and 15.0.

Suddenlink said it will occasionally provide bursts of speed to MAX 36.0 and 20.0 customers of up to 50 Mbps. The DOCSIS 3.0-based platform randomly pings the modems of customers with either of those top two tiers and provides the additional bandwidth if capacity is available.