Comcast intends to sell wireless service alongside its internet, TV, and home phone offerings later this year.
Comcast has not built its own wireless network; rather, it is making good on a reseller agreement it signed with Verizon Wireless back in 2012.
Comcast will offer its own branded service and phones, but the service will run on Verizon’s network. Comcast will, in effect, be operating the wireless service as an MVNO. Comcast sold Verizon a large chunk of spectrum in 2012 as part of the reseller agreement. It will target on triple- and quadruple-play bundles.
“We plan to include wireless in our multi-product bundles in a way that is designed to add value to our customers, improve retention, and ultimately benefit lifetime customer economics for us,” said Comcast CEO Brian Roberts during the company’s recent earnings call. “Our offering will give customers access to a world-class wireless network, benefiting from our WiFi hotspots, with the best mobile devices and a simple, transparent experience, all for a great value.”
Comcast’s in-home routers often serve as open WiFi hotspots to other Comcast customers. Comcast said it will deploy the wireless service slowly and adapt as needed in response to customer feedback. It expects to launch by mid-2017
