Comcast Xfinity Announces Internet Data Caps Beginning Next Month

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Comcast Xfinity residential customers learned that their internet plans will soon come with a cap.

In an email sent Thursday evening, the company says the new "Xfinity Internet Data Usage Plan" will go into effect starting Nov. 1, 2016.

At that time, users will be limited to one terabyte (or 1,046 GB) of data usage per month.

But Comcast says that it's still a lot of data and more than 99 percent of its customers use in a month.

"With a terabyte of data you can stream between 600 and 700 hours of HD video, play more than 12,000 hours of online games, or download 60,000 high-res photos in a month," Comcast said.

Comcast says it will give customers two "courtesy months" if users go over a terabyte. After that, customers will be charged $10 for an additional block of 50 GB.

For those who still want unlimited data, it will cost an additional $50 per month.

"The fee is independent of actual data usage ," Comcast said. "The Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan will not apply to customers who enroll in the Unlimited Data Option."