PHILADELPHIA & STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Comcast and Charter, both regional cable operators, today announced an
agreement to explore potential opportunities for operational cooperation
in their respective wireless businesses to accelerate and enhance each
company's ability to participate in the national wireless marketplace.
The companies, which have each separately activated a mobile virtual
network operator ("MVNO") reseller agreement with Verizon Wireless, have
agreed to explore working together in a number of potential
operational areas in the wireless space, including: creating common
operating platforms; technical standards development and harmonization;
device forward and reverse logistics; and emerging wireless technology
platforms. The efficiencies created are expected to provide more choice,
innovative products and competitive prices for customers in each of
their respective footprints. Additionally, the companies have agreed to
work only together with respect to national mobile network operators,
through potential commercial arrangements, including MVNOs and other
material transactions in the wireless industry, for a period of one year.
Tom Rutledge, Chairman and CEO of Charter, said, "At Charter, we have a
tremendous opportunity in front of us in the wireless space. Within our
footprint, our network is perfectly suited to provide the data-rich
wireless services that customers are increasingly demanding. By working
with the team at Comcast, we can not only speed Charter's entry into the
marketplace, it will also enable us to provide more competition and
drive costs down for consumers at a similar national scale as current
wireless operators. We look forward to working with Comcast through this
innovative arrangement and bringing our focus on superior products and
services, craftsmanship and quality customer care to the wireless space."
"We're looking forward to launching Xfinity Mobile to our customers in
the coming weeks and are excited about this opportunity to work with
Charter to explore ways we can make our respective wireless initiatives
more efficient and cost effective," said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and
CEO of Comcast Corporation. "Both of our companies have regional
wireless businesses using the same 4G LTE network, and by working
together our goal is to create even better experiences for our
customers."
The companies will file an 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission that contains their agreement.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology
company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal.
Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed internet,
and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand,
and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides
wireless and security and automation services to residential customers
under the XFINITY brand. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and
sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks,
television production operations, television station groups, Universal
Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com
for more information.
About Charter
Charter (NASDAQ: CHTR) is a leading broadband communications company and
the second largest cable operator in the United States. Charter provides
a full range of advanced broadband services, including Spectrum TV™
video entertainment programming, Spectrum Internet™ access, and Spectrum
Voice™. Spectrum Business™ similarly provides scalable, tailored, and
cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business
organizations, such as business-to-business Internet access, data
networking, business telephone, video and music entertainment services,
and wireless backhaul. Charter's advertising sales and production
services are sold under the Spectrum Reach™ brand. More information
about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Readers are
cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual events or our actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking
statements. Readers are directed to Charter and Comcast's periodic and
other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
for a description of such risks and uncertainties. Neither Charter nor
Comcast undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170508005591/en/
Comcast
Media
John Demming, (215) 286-8011
John_Demming@comcast.com
or
Investors
Jason
Armstrong, (215) 286-7972
Jason_Armstrong@comcast.com
or
Charter
Media
Justin
Venech, (203) 905-7818
Justin.Venech@Charter.com
or
Investors
Stefan
Anninger, (203) 905-7955
Stefan.Anninger@Charter.com
Source: Comcast
News Provided by Acquire Media