Comcast Rolls Out XFi Pod Program Nationwide

Comcast expanded its xFi Pods offering Tuesday -- from tests in Boston, Chicago and Denver -- to its 15 million internet customers nationwide, the latest in an effort trending among networking and security companies to make residential Wi-Fi more robust. Comcast’s xFi internet service had three goals when it launched last year: (1) improve Wi-Fi speed, (2) bring coverage to “every corner of the home” as consumers connected more devices to a network and (3) offer parents control, Patti Loyack, vice president-IP services and home automation, told us. The xFi pods, available in three- and six-packs starting at $119, are configured in a mesh network design with the first pod connecting close to the xFi gateway and others placed as needed to reach more remote areas of the home, Loyack said. When network congestion occurs, a dynamic channel algorithm ensures devices move to the right channel to avoid network slowdowns, she said, and having more pods ensures the Wi-Fi signal reaches all areas. Most homes are covered by three pods, she said. On whether the pods pack security features, too, Loyack said, “Not yet.” The xFi platform has safe browsing as a “first line of defense against phishing and malware,” she said: “Over time, we’ll look to evolve the roadmap.” Comcast will offer features “similar to things that Norton offers today in coming months,” she said, and that includes making sure anything connected to the home network is protected.