The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

State News

December 18, 2009

Suddenlink Communications to upgrade Internet services

Suddenlink Communications will roll out faster high-speed Internet services the week of Jan. 4 in its Beckley, Charleston, Parkersburg and Logan markets.

Suddenlink spokesman Michael Kelemen said, “Currently customers have a choice of three download speeds — 1.5 megabits, 8 megabits and 12 megabits. The customers who currently subscribe to 8-megabit service will be automatically upgraded to 10 megabits sometime during the week of Jan. 4. Customers who currently subscribe to 12-megabit service will be increased to 15 megs during the same time frame.”

Upload speeds also will increase.

There will be no change in the rates Suddenlink charges, he said.

There won’t be any change in the 1.5-megabit service.

Friday, the company introduced its new High Speed Internet MAX 20.0 service, which features a download speed of up to 20 megabits per second and an upload speed of up to 2 megabits per second.

“This is the fastest residential service available in these areas,” Kelemen said.

Customers who want the MAX 20.0 service will need to sign up for it. Kelemen said the rate is $60 a month. Customers also need a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, he said. Suddenlink does not currently have any DOCSIS 3.0 modems deployed in its service areas. Customers can rent a DOCSIS 3.0 modem from Suddenlink for $10 a month, buy one from Suddenlink for $80 or buy one at an electronics store.

Kelemen said Suddenlink also will add new high-definition television channels to the Suddenlink HD lineup in mid-February, including Discovery HD, Disney HD, TLC HD and FX HD.

The service enhancements are the result of a $36.25 million, three-year investment by Suddenlink in West Virginia and nearby states.

“The special capital funding that has been devoted to West Virginia is really to upgrade our existing cable plant to allow for additional advanced services,” Kelemen said. “This is the first in a series of upgrade announcements that we will make.

“At this time, the Sissonville and Alum Creek areas served by Suddenlink will not have these new services available to them,” he said.

Suddenlink serves about 190,000 customers in West Virginia, offering cable television, telephone and Internet services.

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