Comcast to offer 160Mbps broadband

Comcast plans to increase the speed of its cable broadband connections in 2008 from 16Mbps to 160Mbps, according to chief executive Brian Roberts.

"We are going to download a two-hour movie in high-definition in three minutes and 56 seconds," he said.

Roberts explained that the speed boost is made possible by Comcast's two-way fibre-optic based network, which is ready for the next generation of TV, phone and internet products. Price of the service will depend on demand.

Comcast also expects to draw in other hardware manufacturers, thanks to a system known as Tru2way that allows third parties to build kit for the cable service without needing to access the proprietary box.

Companies such as LG, Panasonic and Samsung showed off Tru2way products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Comcast has also agreed to cooperate with a Federal Communications Commission investigation into traffic management on its cable network. The company denies that it has throttled traffic created through file-sharing.

"Comcast does not, has not, and will not block any websites or online applications, including peer-to-peer services," said Comcast executive vice president David Cohen.