Comcast has reaffirmed its plans to enter the wireless market in 2017.
During Comcast’s earnings call yesterday, CEO Brian Roberts said that launching wireless service in 2017 is one of the company’s priorities. Comcast is targeting a mid-2017 launch for its wireless service.
Comcast plans to resell service using Verizon’s network, and while it will be able to sell service nationally, it expects to push it as part of product bundles in markets where it currently sells cable service. Comcast will also sell smartphones that customers can make payments on.
Here’s what Roberts had to say about Comcast’s wireless plans:
"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. Our offering will give customers access to a world-class wireless network, benefiting from our Wi-Fi [hotspots], with the best mobile devices and a simple, transparent experience, all for a great value."
Comcast’s plan to push its wireless service in markets where it already sells cable seems like a smart one. After all, what incentive would consumers have to choose Comcast over Verizon if they didn’t already have Comcast service? Existing Comcast customers will likely be able to consolidate their wireless bill into their cable bill if they sign up for this service, and Comcast might give them a bit of a deal if they do become Comcast wireless customers.