Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable are teaming up to combine their wifi networks to create roughly 50,000 new wireless hotspots. The companies are calling the new partnered network “CableWiFi,” and was first installed in NYC and central Florida earlier this month, and will be rolled out on a broader scale in the coming months.
Comcast, while recently announcing that it would be eliminating a 250GB per month data cap on its services, mentioned that it was interested in “improved data usage management approaches.” The CableWifi network can be seen as an extension of this.
CableWiFi users, while outside of their home markets, can search for the “CableWiFi” network, and log on using their home network user information. An auto-connect function for CableWifi hotspots will become available, as the network expands.
Nomi Bergman, President of Bright House Networks, states, “This effort adds great value to our high speed Internet customers by providing free wireless Internet access on all of their WiFi enabled devices in our markets and additional areas across the country.” Kristin Dolan, Cablevision’s senior executive vice president of product management and marketing, adds, “We’ve built an extensive WiFi network in our own service area, and see real value and potential in other leading providers joining with us to extend that connectivity to major markets across the country – We believe that WiFi is a superior approach to mobile data, and that cable providers are best positioned to build the highest-capacity national network offering customers fast and reliable Internet connections when away from their home or business broadband service.”