Cox rolls out 1GHz across its network
By Steven Kim 
posted Nov 18th 2007 12:32AM
posted Nov 18th 2007 12:32AM
Like every other cable operator, Cox Communications is looking for more bandwidth. Cox has already brought 70% of its customer base up to the 1GHz mark, and is upgrading the rest of its network up to the same bar. It's all part of the company's 2010 plan, which has some 200 SD (meh) and 100 HD (now we're talking!) channels as a goal. Good times ahead for their internet customers as well, with a boost in both the up and down directions to the tune of 25- and 4-Mbps, respectively. Add in a reduction in the number of analog channels clogging up the pipe and Cox is planning on bringing its node size from 650 to 250 homes, putting them within striking distance of the SDV "magic number."[Via Connected Home 2 Go]
I have been a customer of Cox for years, and I have nothing but good things to say about their wonderful service.
I am a customer of Cox too, I haven't exactly been known to praise Cox, more like talk crap on them. The biggest thing being their lack of HD. If they can pul this off, in my market, and soon, I might not go to DirecTV in the next few months as planned, or even U-verse. I live in one of Cox's larger markets, and the "upgrades" are supposed to be done soon.
I have their cable package plan and I'm really glad that they are waking up and adding more upload to the stream in terms of bandwidth. I have 1mb up and it's not enough ,but 4 may be the ticket. I'm still dropping their cable service though, since they won't have all the channels that directTV has until around 2010, then i may return..but by that time who knows how many channels DirectTV will have??
Cox? Oh, that company that cuts off your service when you are 0.000000000007 nanoseconds late in paying your bill, and then wants to charge you $80 to reconnect you, claiming that they have to "reprogram their computer" to restart you, when actually all they have to do is enter one key in their computer display to restart you? The same Cox whose entire system crashes for days everytime it rains? The same Cox with no security to protect you from your neighbors eavesdropping on you? THAT Cox? Let's see... now how can we reliably determine when Hell has frozen solid, which is exactly the date that I will use them again!
What everybody fails to realize is that the reason why cable companies are struggling for bandwidth is that the FCC requires them to carry the analog channels that take up over half of their mhz spectrum. They can fit 3 HD channels in the 6 mhz bandwidth that 1 analog channel takes up. You don't see Direct TV, Dish, or even Verizon having to carry the analog channel. In 2009 when the cable companies no longer have to carry the analog channels, you will see more products and channels coming available.
There is no FCC requirement for cable to carry analog and the 2009 analog cutoff is for broadcast only. Cable companies carry analog because their customers want it because they don't want a box or have multiple TVs.
I'm still on a 550 MHz node with Comcast. Thanks Comcast! *rolls eyes*
I got DirecTV, so I could care less about the # of HD channels. I just wish I had some of that bandwidth for high-speed internet, 25 mbps down and 4 up-stream? Yeah, I'm still getting 7 mbps down and 512 kbps up-stream....
Not sure about other markets but tomorrow (20th) Cox is to flip the switch on some new channels for Tulsa and OKC
http://cox.com/oklahoma/newhd/default.asp