Mediacom Communications has launched DOCSIS 3.1-based gigabit Internet speeds in 82 communities in Missouri and Kansas, with 253,000 homes and businesses passed. The deployment raises Mediacom's DOCSIS 3.1 footprint to more than 1,000 communities.

Springfield, MO, was the 1,000th community to get Mediacom gigabit services. In a statement praising the milestone, Springfield Mayor Ken McClure said: "Springfield residents, like consumers elsewhere, rely on more connected devices and have seen their Internet data consumption grow by as much as 35% to 50% per year."

Mediacom plans to deploy DOCSIS 3.1 gigabit broadband services to virtually all of the 3 million homes and businesses within its 22-state footprint. The company deployed the service in 75 Indiana communities in June. Other recent deployments include Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Iowa. Mediacom plans to continue launching DOCSIS 3.1 market by market throughout the remainder of the year. In conjunction with each gigabit launch, the company will also introduce a 500 Mbps service tier.

Early deployments have used CCAP gear from Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) and Casa Systems, with modems from Technicolor. The company plans to add modems from other vendors as they become available.