Cox Places WiFi Bet In Las Vegas

Cox has expanded the reach of its growing WiFi network with its expected deployment in Las Vegas, in time for next month’s big gadget-fest, the Consumer Electronics Show.

Cox said that deployment and its recent WiFi launch in Phoenix involve more than 1,700 addition hotspots to a WiFi deployment that now reaches six markets. Cox has already deployed WiFi hotspots in parts of Northern Virginia; Sun Valley, Idaho; Connecticut; and Omaha, Neb.

Cox said it will launch WiFi in “many more” markets next year, with San Diego to be among the first in line.

Cox subs who take the MSO’s Preferred, Premier, Ultimate and new but limited GIGABLAST Internet packages can access those hotspots, which emit the “CoxWiFi” SSID, as part of their service.

Cox is also a member of a Cable WiFi roaming group that also includes Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision Systems, and Bright House Networks. That group has deployed more than 300,000 hotspots so far.

Charter Communications told Multichannel News recently that it will also join the mix as it moves ahead with its Spectrum WiFi platform.

"In addition to the incredible speeds Cox offers in the home, our customers want access to reliable high speed Internet wherever they are," said Len Barlik, executive vice president of product development and management at Cox Communications, in a statement. "Providing them Cox WiFi service allows us to meet their changing information access needs, whether it's TV programming, social connections, home monitoring or simply general information that is reliable from the four walls of their home to the four corners of their community. Cox provides solutions not only today but for the future, as well."