RCN beats Comcast to Massachusetts with DOCSIS 3.1

Cable overbuilder RCN has once again beat rival Comcast to a key metropolitan market with DOCSIS 3.1-powered gigabit service, announcing the rollout in Boston and other Massachusetts locales. 

Within the state, RCN offers service to Allston, Arlington, Boston, Brighton, Brookline, Burlington, Charlestown, Dedham, Dorchester, Everett, Framingham, Hyde Park, Lexington, Milton, Natick, Needham, Newton, Roslindale, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, West Roxbury and Woburn.

As a Comcast rep noted to FierceCable, the MSO does offer 2 Gbps service in its Massachusetts footprint via its fiber-based GigabitPro service. That currently runs $149.99 a month for the first two years. 

RCN’s Massachusetts rollout follows earlier DOCSIS 3.1 deployments in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. 

RELATED: RCN to launch gigabit service in Chicago, undercuts Comcast and AT&T

“The need for data speed is becoming more important to our customers and RCN's new 1 gigabit service will revolutionize the way a household will run with the increasing number of internet of things that are now embedded into our everyday lives,” said Jeff Carlson, senior VP and general manager of RCN Boston, in a statement. “Technological advancement is a priority at RCN and we are continually upgrading our products and services for the benefit of our customers."

RCN is offering its 1-gig service for $69.99 a month for the first year with no contract required. 

RCN has notably undercut Comcast in the DOCSIS 3.1 race, with the much larger MSO charging customers $140 a month for 1 Gbps service. 

Princeton, New Jersey-based RCN launched DOCSIS 3.1-enabled 1-gig services in Chicago last September. 

Updated: Story was updated on 3/24/17 to include a note from Comcast about its Gigabit Pro service.