Comcast Gigabit now available in SF but still can't compete

[guestuser123123]

If you haven't noticed, Comcast rolled out their DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit service in SF.

They're offering 1000 Mbps/ 35 Mbps for $70/month with a 24-month contract.

Their new service still can't compete with Sonic Fiber because:

* $70 vs $40 (before taxes and fees)
* 24 month contract
* 1TB monthly cap
* 28.5x slower upload speed
* It's Comcast

I wonder how Comcast is able to compete with Sonic in SF? There's no way right?

[pockyken007]

If you haven't noticed, Comcast rolled out their DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit service in SF.

They're offering 1000 Mbps/ 35 Mbps for $70/month with a 24-month contract.

Their new service still can't compete with Sonic Fiber because:

* $70 vs $40 (before taxes and fees)
* 24 month contract
* 1TB monthly cap
* 28.5x slower upload speed
* It's Comcast

I wonder how Comcast is able to compete with Sonic in SF? There's no way right?

The areas that are not covered by SONIC will take that and suffer till sonic rolls out their fiber there ( if at all )

[joeyyung911]

I wonder how Comcast is able to compete with Sonic in SF? There's no way right?

Pretty sure it's the other way around. Sonic will not compete with an incumbent fiber/gigabit competitor. And Comcast can deploy theirs in a snap of a finger.

[(ex-)torstenb]

If you haven't noticed, Comcast rolled out their DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit service in SF.
Their new service still can't compete with Sonic Fiber because:

* $70 vs $40 (before taxes and fees)

If it is anything like AT&T's Internet-only offer, then the $70 are the final price. No other fees or taxes would be added. With all the fees and taxes that are thrown onto the Sonic price, it may end up pretty close to being the same.

* 24 month contract

= 24 month price-guarantee.

* 1TB monthly cap

Only 1% or less of the population will have an issue with that today.

* 28.5x slower upload speed

Can't beat symmetrical internet speeds. But again, not relevant to too many people yet these days.

* It's Comcast

Just need to know how to work them.

I wonder how Comcast is able to compete with Sonic in SF? There's no way right?

There's only a handful of streets and blocks in the entire Bay Area that Sonic may be relevant. Everywhere else Sonic can't compete anymore.

[steelgaze]

Sonic's pricing is about 63~ dollars, which is a 7 dollar difference.
I'd say over the year it is 84 dollars difference.

Sonic has a 12 month contract, which is half of the 24 month price guarantee.
The Comcast guarantee is kinda stupid because it takes a long call or two and you can get that price back with another contract. Is it terrible? Honestly .. not really if you are also interested in the channel packages.

[pockyken007]

If you haven't noticed, Comcast rolled out their DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit service in SF.
Their new service still can't compete with Sonic Fiber because:

* $70 vs $40 (before taxes and fees)

If it is anything like AT&T's Internet-only offer, then the $70 are the final price. No other fees or taxes would be added. With all the fees and taxes that are thrown onto the Sonic price, it may end up pretty close to being the same.

* 24 month contract

= 24 month price-guarantee.

* 1TB monthly cap

Only 1% or less of the population will have an issue with that today.

* 28.5x slower upload speed

Can't beat symmetrical internet speeds. But again, not relevant to too many people yet these days.

* It's Comcast

Just need to know how to work them.

I wonder how Comcast is able to compete with Sonic in SF? There's no way right?

There's only a handful of streets and blocks in the entire Bay Area that Sonic may be relevant. Everywhere else Sonic can't compete anymore.

Retention game , lack of privacy , data caps , deep packet scanning yeah no thanks ...

[jdfrench]

Back-room deals with landlords to block Sonic service from multi-tenant buildings. Apparently landlords can just ignore the ordinance and face no penalty since it's not worth going to court over. Mine did, and I'm now locked into a contract with Comcast at 100 megabits per second for $10 more than Sonic gigabit would cost me. The fiber is 5 feet from my window.

[steelgaze]

Back-room deals with landlords to block Sonic service from multi-tenant buildings. Apparently landlords can just ignore the ordinance and face no penalty since it's not worth going to court over. Mine did, and I'm now locked into a contract with Comcast at 100 megabits per second for $10 more than Sonic gigabit would cost me. The fiber is 5 feet from my window.

Complain to the City. They can get the landlord fined $500/day + attorney fees (theres) if the landlord keeps refusing.
It's a double edge sword though. Your landlord is going to give you shit for the rest of your time there.

[pockyken007]

Back-room deals with landlords to block Sonic service from multi-tenant buildings. Apparently landlords can just ignore the ordinance and face no penalty since it's not worth going to court over. Mine did, and I'm now locked into a contract with Comcast at 100 megabits per second for $10 more than Sonic gigabit would cost me. The fiber is 5 feet from my window.

Complain to the City. They can get the landlord fined $500/day + attorney fees (theres) if the landlord keeps refusing.
It's a double edge sword though. Your landlord is going to give you shit for the rest of your time there.

I would file a complain and make the landlord suffer ... but then he will become a pain in the ass ... so yeah depends how badly you want that fiber

[user817127]

Sonic's pricing is about 63~ dollars, which is a 7 dollar difference.
I'd say over the year it is 84 dollars difference.

Sonic has a 12 month contract, which is half of the 24 month price guarantee.
The Comcast guarantee is kinda stupid because it takes a long call or two and you can get that price back with another contract. Is it terrible? Honestly .. not really if you are also interested in the channel packages.

I believe you can forego renting a router from Sonic which will reduce your monthly cost by several dollars.

I provide internet to all my tenants so my bandwidth usage averages 1.2TB per month. That would end up costing $120/month if I chose Comcast vs less than $60 if I chose Sonic. That's not accounting for the far superior upload speeds and more consistent bandwidth during peak times.