Archive notice: This article was originally published on December 21, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Kabel Deutschland (KDG) is now testing Internet access of up to 100 Mbit/s in Hamburg. No other provider in Germany currently offers more bandwidth. Together with COMPUTERBILD Online, the performance and capacities of the television cable upgraded for 100 Mbit/s will be put through its paces in Hamburg city centre for two months. This is intended to demonstrate the technical possibilities and reliability of the cable network. Interested readers of the computer magazine were able to apply as test users. After the test phase, COMPUTERBILD Online will evaluate the results and report on them exclusively.
Full bandwidth reserved solely for surfing the Internet
The bandwidth of the 100 Mbit/s test connections via television cable is reserved solely for surfing the Internet and does not have to be used for receiving television. This underlines the particular suitability of the cable network for modern telecommunications. With fast broadband connections via the DSL network, by contrast, television and Internet must share the booked bandwidth. For television reception via TV cable, Kabel Deutschland provides all customers with 33 analogue and around 200 digital television programmes in parallel.
“Converted into Internet bandwidth, the original television cable therefore already has a maximum transmission capacity of 5 Gbit/s today! The advantage of cable infrastructure: the high brandwidth is then available to every upgraded cable household – regardless of the distance from the last amplifier point. The VDSL network, by contrast, achieves full bandwidth only over a few hundred metres and can therefore only be fully used in metropolitan areas,” says Lorenz Glatz, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Kabel Deutschland.
The 100 Mbit/s test is based on a precursor to the new cable Internet standard called DOCSIS 3.0 (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification). The full standard will be introduced successively in all Kabel Deutschland networks.
Currently up to 30 Mbit/s download speed in the tariff offering
At present, Kabel Deutschland customers can book up to 30 Mbit/s as the highest download speed solely for their surfing pleasure; for example in the ’Deluxe’ package offering at a price of 39.90 euros, consisting of an Internet flat rate of up to 30 Mbit/s and a free telephone flat rate. A service technician installs the Internet and telephone offerings at the customer’s home free of charge. The required cable modem, including telephone adapter, is provided to the customer free of charge for the duration of the contract.
