Comcast Gets Serious About WiMax with High-Speed 2go

The 4G race just got a lot more interesting. Although Comcast has been an investor in Clearwire since November, the nation’s largest cable provider and ISP has officially announced that it will be reselling access to Clear’s 4G Mobile WiMax network as Comcast High-Speed 2go. Initially available in Portland starting tomorrow, the company plans to expand this speedy 4 Mbps service to Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and other cities by the end of they year. Given that 4G data access will be limited to those locales where Clear has coverage, Comcast is wisely selling two data plans: the High-Speed 2go Metro service uses 4G only (great for those who spend the majority of their time within a given city), while the High-Speed 2go Nationwide plan bundles Clear and Sprint’s 3G service on devices that can automatically switch networks. Read on for the pricing breakdown.

• The Fast Pack Metro Service includes Comcast’s 12 Mbps home Internet service, a free Wi-Fi router, and 4G service on the go for $49 per month for the first year. After that it’s $72.95 per month.
• Fast Pack Nationwide (which includes all of the above plus 3G access) costs an additional $20 per month for the first year. After that it would be $92.95 per month total.
• Triple Play customers can get 4G wireless as an add-on for as low as $30 per month.

With LTE looming on the horizon, the clock is definitely ticking for Clearwire. However, Comcast is a heavy hitter, and one shouldn’t underestimate the weight this ISP’s bundles, promotional efforts, and aggressive pricing could carry. Who knows, given the blazing throughput this service offers, Comcast could eventually become your mobile phone company, too.