Comcast increases speed of low-income-focused Internet Essentials plan

Comcast Corp. is doubling the download speed of its Internet Essentials plan to 50 Mbps and increasing the upstream speed to 5 Mbps, effective March 1.

The new speeds will be rolled out for free to all new and existing Internet Essentials subscribers, with the monthly rate remaining at $9.95, the company said Feb. 2. It is the sixth time Comcast has increased the speed for Internet Essentials since its launch in 2011.

Internet Essentials users will also get Comcast's xFi and xFi Advanced Security product features for free, while new customers who sign up before June 30 will get 60 days of free service.

The moves are in line with Comcast's commitment to promoting digital equity, closing the digital divide, and addressing digital literacy and the "homework gap," the company said.

Comcast will also speed up its target of launching 1,000 "lift zones," or free WiFi spaces for students in community centers across the U.S., by 2021-end, more than a year ahead of its original plan. The company will work with nonprofit partners and city leaders to fulfill the goal.

In addition, Comcast will earmark $3.5 million to support the Young Women's Christian Association, CodePath, and seven other nonprofit groups that help increase digital equity as well as promote career opportunities for communities in color across sectors such as media, technology, arts, and entrepreneurship. The financial support is part of more than $40 million of commitments since 2020.

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