Wireless technology is constantly improving, and in the past three years, we’ve seen the introduction of wireless technology Wi-Fi 6And the Wi-Fi 6E the latest wireless standard, Wi-Fi 7. However, your Internet speed It will always depend on the cable modem first and foremost.
Whereas a router sends a Wi-Fi signal throughout your home and provides internet to devices connected via Ethernet, a cable modem primarily handles the delivery of the internet connection to your home. Without one, you won’t be able to connect to the internet at all.
the The best cable modems Available today with support for DOCSIS 3.0 or DOCSIS 3.1. However, the DOCSIS 4.0 industry standard has already been approved and will provide a better streaming experience as well as faster upload speeds once it finally starts rolling out to consumers.
Until then, here’s everything you need to know about DOCSIS 4.0 and its potential to change the Internet as we know it.
History of DOCSIS
First released in 1997, the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification or DOCSIS for short is a telecom industry standard that allows high-bandwidth data to be transmitted over existing cable wires. Although DOCSIS 1.0 had a maximum download speed of 40 Mbps, it was a huge upgrade over Dial-up Internet which used phone lines and reached 56 Kbps.
DOCSIS 1.1 was released in 2001 and during its addition VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms, there was no increase in upload speed until the following year when DOCSIS 2.0 was released and it increased from 10 Mbps to 30 Mbps.
In 2006, the way we connected to the Internet got faster with the release of DOCSIS 3.0. This version of the industry standard raised the maximum download capacity to 1 Gbps and the maximum upstream capacity to 200 Mbps. It also introduced support for the IPv6 network layer protocol along with channel bonding which combines multiple channels or lanes to increase the amount of traffic a modem can support.
There was some lull in the next few years until DOCSIS 3.1 was released in 2013.
DOCSIS 3.1 vs. DOCSIS 4.0
As you can see in the chart below, DOCSIS 3.1 has taken things to a whole new level with a maximum throughput of 10Gbps. It also raised the maximum download capacity to 1-2 Gbps. While data can travel up to 10 times faster than gigabit internet with a DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem, you still need a multitasking plan from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to fully utilize its potential.
| Row 0 – cell 0 | DOCSIS 2.0.2 update | DOCSIS 3.0 | DOCSIS 3.1.1 update | DOCSIS 4.0.0 update |
| downstream capacity | 40 Mbps | 1 Gbps | 10 Gbps | 10 Gbps |
| upstream capacity | 30 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 1-2 Gbps | 6 Gbps |
| Release Date | 2001 | 2006 | 2013 | 2019 |
Although DOCSIS 4.0-compliant cable modems haven’t hit the shelves yet, the next version of this industry standard will still offer some benefits over its predecessor. While maximum downstream capacity will still be capped at 10Gbps, upstream rates are getting their biggest boost ever. With 6Gbps raw data rates available, live streaming, content creation, and other heavy-duty activities will be noticeably faster.
When can we expect DOCSIS 4.0 to arrive?
Earlier this month, Comcast revealed in a press release (Opens in a new tab) It has conducted the world’s first live multi-link symmetric Internet connection supported by 10G and Full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0.
Besides allowing for blazing-fast speeds, one of the best things about 10G technology (another name for 10Gbps for the Internet) is that it won’t require any new connections to be installed, which means you won’t have ISP employees digging up your yard.
Now that Comcast has demonstrated how DOCSIS 4.0 and 10G modems can work together to deliver multifunctional internet speeds, the company is rolling out a nationwide rollout that it says will reach 50 million homes and businesses in the United States before the end of 2025.
If you’re a Comcast customer looking for faster internet speeds, the company plans to start offering 2 gig plans next year, though 3 gig Gigabit Pro service is available in some areas. For those who don’t mind switching providers, AT&T offers both 2-gig and 5-gig fiber internet for $110 and $180 per month, respectively. Same with Frontier which has 2 gig plans for $149 per month. If you live in an area where Google Fiber is available, you can get a dual plan for $100 per month.
DOCSIS 4.0 may be the next big thing, but in the next few years, a DOCSIS 3.1-compliant cable modem will be all you need to get the fastest internet connection available in your area.
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