Which US ISPs Offer Multi-Gig WAN Equipment (And What Model You’ll Actually Get)
Multi-gig internet plans are no longer rare in the US — Comcast, Charter, Cox, AT&T, Verizon, Optimum, and Frontier all sell tiers above 1 Gbps today. What trips people up is the hardware: multi-gig service only reaches your devices at full speed if the gateway or ONT (Optical Network Terminal) the ISP installs actually has a WAN-side connection built for it. Not every “multi-gig” plan ships with the same box, and the specs vary a lot by provider and by which generation of hardware happens to be in your local warehouse.
Here’s a confirmed, source-by-source breakdown of which incumbent ISPs currently deploy multi-gig-capable WAN equipment, which model you’ll get, and what its actual specs are.
What “Multi-Gig WAN Equipment” Means Here
Every gateway or ONT has two sides: the WAN side, which talks to the ISP’s access network (cable plant or fiber), and the LAN side, which talks to your router, switch, and devices. A box only delivers multi-gig speeds end to end if both sides can handle it — a 2.5G LAN port behind a 1G WAN connection still caps out at 1 Gbps. The equipment below is organized by what each ISP currently ships for its fastest residential tiers, with WAN and LAN port speeds noted separately where that information is confirmed.
Comcast Xfinity — XB10 Gateway (X-Class / DOCSIS 4.0)
Comcast’s DOCSIS 4.0 multi-gig service, marketed under the X-Class name (X-300 through X-2000 tiers, with symmetrical upload speeds), pairs with the XB10 gateway. Comcast unveiled the XB10 at its “Converge” event in February 2024, built around a new unified Broadcom DOCSIS 4.0 chipset that supports both of Comcast’s upgrade paths — Full Duplex DOCSIS (FDX, Comcast’s primary approach) and Extended Spectrum DOCSIS (ESD) — plus Wi-Fi 7 with three radio bands capable of connecting up to 300 devices (Light Reading).
- DOCSIS version: 4.0 (unified FDX/ESD chipset)
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), tri-band, ~300 connected devices
- Symmetrical speed tiers supported: X-300 through X-2000 (300 Mbps–2 Gbps down/up), with Comcast’s network architecture built toward multi-gigabit ceilings (Comcast Corporate)
- Availability: Issued to X-Class Internet customers on X-500 tier and above; rolled out starting in select markets (Atlanta, Philadelphia, Colorado Springs, Denver, Seattle, Sacramento, Miami, Augusta, Pittsburgh) with more added regularly (Telecompetitor)
- Wired ports: Comcast has not published a single, consistent wired-port spec across its own materials — some documentation and reviewers describe multiple 10GbE ports, others describe standard Gigabit Ethernet ports. Confirm your unit’s exact port speeds in the Xfinity app or gateway label before assuming multi-gig wired throughput.
Before the XB10, Comcast’s initial DOCSIS 4.0 trial markets paired a standalone D4.0 modem with a separate Wi-Fi 6E access point/router rather than a single combined gateway.
Charter Spectrum — 2.5G Modem + Advanced WiFi 7 Router
Spectrum’s current multi-gig approach splits the modem and router into two devices rather than one combined gateway. Its newest DOCSIS 3.1 modems — the ET2251, EU2251, and ES2251 (the ES2251 built by Sagemcom) — include a single 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gigabit Ethernet port, replacing the 1 Gbps port that bottlenecked earlier hardware on Spectrum’s Gig (1 Gbps) and 2 Gbps plans.
Spectrum pairs this with its Advanced WiFi 7 router, which began deployment in November 2024, starting in Greensboro, NC. Charter’s own announcement describes the router as built to handle “the ever-increasing number of connected devices” and states that “WiFi 7’s ability to support multi-gigabit speeds ensures our routers will be ready for future Spectrum innovation” — language that signals readiness rather than a currently-active multi-gig WAN tier on Charter’s own network (Charter Communications).
- Modem: ET2251 / EU2251 / ES2251 — DOCSIS 3.1, one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port
- Router: Advanced WiFi 7 router (Wi-Fi 7, multi-gig-ready LAN)
- Network status: Charter has said its full DOCSIS 4.0 network evolution across its 55-million-passing footprint won’t be complete until 2027, and it isn’t actively marketing multi-gig WAN speeds nationally yet (BroadbandNow)
Cox — Panoramic Wifi Gateway PW8 (Technicolor CGM4981)
Cox’s multi-gig gateway is the PW8, built by Technicolor and listed under model number CGM4981. It’s a combined modem/router unit with a 2.5 Gbps WAN-capable port alongside multiple Gigabit LAN ports, positioned for Cox’s Gigablast and higher-tier plans.
- Model: Technicolor CGM4981 (Cox “PW8”)
- Multi-gig port: 2.5G port, plus 3 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports
- Refresh cycle: Cox offers a free equipment upgrade option roughly every three years so gateway hardware doesn’t lag behind available speed tiers (Cox Communications)
AT&T Fiber — Two Gateway Generations for Multi-Gig Tiers
AT&T Fiber’s equipment for multi-gig plans depends on which generation of gateway you’re issued:
- BGW320-505 (“All-Fi Hub” predecessor): Wi-Fi 6 gateway with a built-in ONT, one 5G-capable Ethernet port plus three Gigabit Ethernet ports, used for AT&T’s earlier 2 Gig and 5 Gig tiers.
- BGW620-700 (“All-Fi Hub”): Newer Wi-Fi 7 gateway released in 2025, with an integrated Optical BOSA for direct fiber connectivity, an SFP port, two 10 Gbps Ethernet ports, and two 1 Gbps LAN ports — plus built-in Thread, Zigbee, and BLE radios for smart-home devices (Grokipedia summary of FCC filing; FCC ID filing).
Both gateways support IP passthrough mode, letting you connect your own router behind the AT&T-supplied WAN device and hand off the public IP address to it, as an alternative to full bridge mode.
- Model (current-gen): BGW620-700
- Multi-gig ports: Two 10 Gbps Ethernet ports + one SFP port
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7, concurrent 2.4/5/6 GHz
- BYOD support: IP passthrough mode
Verizon Fios — Verizon Router (CR1000A)
Verizon’s current Fios hardware is the Verizon Router, model CR1000A, a Wi-Fi 6E tri-band router. Per Verizon’s own datasheet, it includes one 10 Gigabit WAN-capable port, one additional 10 Gigabit LAN port, and two 2.5 Gigabit LAN ports (Verizon Business datasheet; Verizon Support).
- Model: CR1000A
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E, tri-band, covers up to ~2,500 sq. ft.
- Ports: One 10G WAN-capable port, one 10G LAN port, two 2.5G LAN ports
- Rental/purchase: Available for a $15/month rental or outright purchase; customers can also connect their own router directly to the ONT’s Ethernet port to skip the rental fee, since the ONT itself is Verizon-provisioned regardless
Optimum (Altice) — 8 Gig Symmetrical Fiber Gateway
Optimum runs the most aggressive confirmed multi-gig tier of any incumbent covered here: 8 Gig symmetrical service over XGS-PON, now available to more than 1.7 million homes and businesses as of its 2023 launch and expanded since (Businesswire / Altice USA; Fierce Network).
- Network technology: XGS-PON (10-gigabit symmetrical passive optical network), which Altice describes as superior to the legacy GPON standard many other fiber providers still use
- Equipment: Delivered via an “Optimum Fiber Gateway” combined ONT/router unit; Optimum has not published a specific consumer-facing model number or detailed port spec sheet in its public materials as of this writing
- Reliability claim: Backed by a stated 99.9% network reliability figure from Optimum
Frontier Fiber — XGS-PON ONT + eero Router
Frontier’s 2 Gig and 5 Gig fiber tiers run on XGS-PON, terminating in an ONT that Frontier pairs with an eero router rather than a combined single-box gateway.
- ONT: XGS-PON-compatible; Frontier has not published a specific ONT model number publicly, but confirms 2.5GbE or 10GbE Ethernet handoff depending on plan tier
- Router: eero Pro (2.5GbE WAN port, bundled with the 2 Gig plan) or eero 7 (bundled across Frontier Fiber plans)
- Practical note: Frontier states you need at least a 2.5G WAN-capable connection for the 2 Gig plan and a 10G-capable connection to approach full wired throughput on the 5 Gig plan
Quick Comparison Table
| ISP | Equipment model | Multi-gig WAN spec | Max symmetrical tier (as deployed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comcast Xfinity | XB10 Gateway | DOCSIS 4.0, Wi-Fi 7; exact wired port speeds not consistently published | Up to X-2000 (2 Gbps) in active D4.0 markets |
| Charter Spectrum | ET2251/EU2251/ES2251 modem + Advanced WiFi 7 router | 2.5G modem port | Up to 2 Gbps; full D4.0 network evolution targeted for 2027 |
| Cox | Panoramic Wifi Gateway PW8 (Technicolor CGM4981) | 2.5G WAN-capable port | Gigablast-tier and above |
| AT&T Fiber | BGW620-700 All-Fi Hub | Two 10G ports + SFP | 5 Gig |
| Verizon Fios | Verizon Router CR1000A | 10G WAN-capable port | 2 Gig |
| Optimum (Altice) | Optimum Fiber Gateway (model not published) | XGS-PON | 8 Gig symmetrical |
| Frontier Fiber | XGS-PON ONT + eero Pro/eero 7 | 2.5G–10G depending on tier | 5 Gig |
What to Check Before You Sign Up
- Confirm the gateway model you’ll actually receive, not just the plan name — ISPs frequently ship older-generation hardware to some addresses even after announcing new gateways, especially during phased rollouts like Comcast’s X-Class expansion or Charter’s WiFi 7 deployment.
- Match your own router/switch to the WAN speed, not just the plan speed. A 5 Gig fiber plan behind a 10G-capable gateway still needs a 10GbE-capable router or switch downstream to avoid re-creating the bottleneck on your own network.
- Ask about IP passthrough or bridge mode if you want to use your own Wi-Fi router. AT&T and Verizon both support connecting your own hardware behind their WAN device; Comcast and Charter equipment varies by gateway generation.
- Verify the plan is live at your address, not just listed for your ZIP code. Multi-gig cable service in particular is deployed market by market, and coverage maps can lag actual plant upgrades.
- Run a real speed test on a wired connection after installation to confirm you’re getting the throughput the equipment is rated for — test your connection at SpeedTestMax, including gigabit and multi-gig tiers up to 10 Gbps.
FAQ
Do any US ISPs actually provide multi-gig WAN equipment today?
Yes. Comcast Xfinity (XB10), Cox (Panoramic Wifi Gateway PW8), AT&T Fiber (BGW620-700 All-Fi Hub), Verizon Fios (CR1000A), Optimum, and Frontier Fiber all currently issue equipment capable of multi-gig WAN speeds on at least some of their plans, though coverage and hardware generation vary by address.
Can I buy this equipment at retail instead of getting it from my ISP?
No — all of the gateways and ONTs listed here are ISP-issued hardware tied to that provider’s specific network authentication (DOCSIS provisioning for cable, PON authentication for fiber). None of them are sold as standalone retail products.
Which ISP currently offers the fastest confirmed symmetrical speed?
Optimum’s 8 Gig symmetrical fiber tier, running on XGS-PON, is the fastest confirmed symmetrical residential tier among the providers covered here as of this writing.
Is Comcast’s XB10 available everywhere?
No. It’s issued to X-Class Internet customers on the X-500 tier and above in markets where Comcast has completed DOCSIS 4.0 upgrades — a growing but still limited list of metro areas as of mid-2026.
Do I need a new router if my ISP’s gateway already supports multi-gig?
Not necessarily for Wi-Fi, since ISP gateways typically include their own Wi-Fi radios. But if you want a wired multi-gig connection to a specific device (like a NAS or gaming PC), your router or switch’s LAN ports need to match or exceed the gateway’s WAN speed — a common bottleneck even when the ISP-side equipment is capable.
Sources
- Light Reading — Comcast Unveils First DOCSIS 4.0 Gateway, Tests ‘High Fidelity Video’
- Comcast Corporate — Comcast Delivers Multi-Gig Symmetrical Speeds in the World’s First DOCSIS 4.0 Deployment
- Telecompetitor — Comcast Sees Accelerated DOCSIS 4.0 Multi-Gig Rollout Coming
- Charter Communications — Spectrum Begins Deployment of Next-Generation Advanced WiFi 7 Routers
- BroadbandNow — How Charter’s DOCSIS 4.0 Impacts Broadband
- Cox Communications — Panoramic Wifi Gateway Router
- FCC ID Filing — AT&T BGW620-700 Residential Gateway User Guide
- Verizon — Verizon Router (CR1000A) Datasheet
- Verizon Support — Verizon Router (CR1000A) Overview
- Altice USA — Ultra-Fast Optimum 8 Gig Symmetrical Fiber Internet Service Launches
- Fierce Network — Altice USA Unveils 8-Gig Optimum Fiber Tier