To meet the demand for faster Internet, where every millisecond counts, Comcast has decided to launch a new instant-response connectivity service, perfect for online gaming and video calls.
Xfinity Internet Low Latency
Under the Xfinity Internet brand, the company has introduced an optimized infrastructure that minimizes delay in data transmission, achieving remarkable fluidity on platforms such as FaceTime, mixed reality devices and demanding titles on Steam.
The core of this innovation is based on the L4S standard, a technology that efficiently manages data traffic to minimize network congestion in real time. This allows for smoother communication between devices.
The estimate, according to Jason Livingood, vice president of technology policies, products and standards at Comcast, is a latency reduced to about 25 milliseconds.
Who might be interested?
One of the biggest beneficiaries of this advancement is the online gaming sector, where every fraction of a second can make the difference between victory and defeat. Fast-paced games like fighting games and competitive shooters are particularly affected by latency, giving some players unfair advantages depending on their connection.
Until now, professional tournaments have opted to be held in person to avoid these kinds of inequalities. However, technologies like rollback netcode have made it possible to reduce the impact of latency on online play. With the arrival of Comcast’s service, the gap is narrowing even further.
Initial Availability
For its initial rollout, Comcast has limited availability to Atlanta, Colorado Springs, Chicago, Rockville, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, though it will be available in all locations later. Additionally, an Xfinity Gateway XB6, XB7, or XB8 model is required to take advantage of its benefits – support will also be expanded in the future.
Not in these cities? Let us know in the comments where you’d like to see Xfinity Internet Low Latency deployed.