Comcast has long been rumored to be jumping into the wireless industry. They do already have a bit of spectrum to their name, which they are currently licensing out to Verizon, in exchange for using Verizon’s network as a MVNO. However, Comcast does not yet have their own wireless service, nor have they activated the MVNO option they have with Verizon. Comcast’s CEO Brian Roberts, was interviewed by CNBC this week, where he stated that they are keeping their options open, when it comes to wireless.
Roberts also briefly touched on the incentive auction, stating that he can’t say much about it, but it’s not a secret that Comcast is taking part in the auction. Many analysts aren’t expecting Comcast to build out a full LTE network across the US, like the four wireless carriers have. Instead, they are expecting the company to leverage whatever spectrum they get from this auction, to compliment the WiFi hotspots that they have around the country right now. Similar to what Project Fi, from Google, has done. Where the service prefers users to use WiFi, as opposed to using mobile data. That would likely be the case if this is the route that Comcast takes. The company has not confirmed that these are their plans though.
In the interview, Roberts also mentioned that he is happy with the company that Comcast is right now. Saying that Comcast is currently focusing on making sure that consumers have access to their services no matter where they are. That’s a big part of why the XFINITY WiFi hotspots have been a big deal for the company. Bringing these hotspots just about everywhere means that consumers will be able to connect whether they are at home, at a coffee shop, or traveling.
Comcast is just one of around 100 companies that are taking place in the incentive auction for 600MHz spectrum this year. Other notable names include SoftBank, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Dish Network. Although we won’t know the results of this auction until later this year, if Comcast is able to pick up a decent amount of licenses, we could see them launch their own wireless network, based on their WiFi hotspots.