Canadian MSO Rogers Cable moved to trump the broadband pack in the game of throughput one-upmanship, announcing its new Hi-Speed Internet Extreme service that offers 5 Megabits per second downstream.

Available now in Ontario and New Brunswick, the service offers maximum throughputs of 5 Mbps downstream, 800 kilobits per second upstream for $44.95 monthly - the same price as its existing Hi-Speed Internet service - plus $99.95 for modem purchase with an introductory $20 rebate. Plans are to roll out the service in Newfoundland later this year.

"This new 5 Mbps residential service will give customers the fastest Internet modem setting available in Rogers areas," said Edward Rogers, Rogers' president and CEO. "Our research clearly indicates that speed is the most important factor in choosing a high-speed Internet service provider."

The MSO will continue offering the Hi-Speed Internet service with a 3 Mbps downstream, 384 kpbs upstream connection for $44.95 monthly, but that package includes a modem rental fee with no requirement for purchase.

It also offers Hi-Speed Internet Lite service with a 128 kbps down 64 kbps up connection for $29.95 monthly, and a trio of business service tiers ranging from $34.95 to $79.95 monthly.