Atlantic Broadband has announced the deployment of its managed Wi-Fi product in service areas it acquired in its purchase of the remaining MetroCast assets last year.
Enhanced WiFi (E-WiFi) wsa first launched by Atlantic Broadband in its existing markets in 2017. It is now available to the operator’s customers in New Hampshire, Maine, Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern Maryland and Virginia.
E-WiFi uses multiple wireless mesh access points and intelligent routing algorithms designed by AirTies.
“The quality of the in-home WiFi experience and business-based WiFi performance is critical to daily life and commerce today,” said Heather McCallion, VP of products and programming for Atlantic Broadband, in a statement. “After Atlantic Broadband acquired the MetroCast properties last year, we significantly boosted internet speeds for all of our residential and business customers. With today’s launch of E-WiFi, our customers will have access to powerful technology that will take internet performance to new heights.”
In a report published earlier this week, equity research firm Cowen identified managed Wi-Fi, along with smart home management, as opportunities often overlooked in a cable industry focused on broadband speed increases.
“We are seeing the emergence of ‘managed Wi-Fi’ for better in-home coverage solutions which includes RF optimization/education, Wi-Fi extenders, parental controls, and a platform for said device management,” Cohen said. “While Comcast offers ‘xFi Pods’ (Wi-Fi extenders licensed from Plume), we could see a race for more personalized services. Charter recently noted it may launch a smart home management service this fall. Both ‘smart/managed Wi-Fi’ providers such as Plume and the MSO’s (which may or may not white label solutions from managed Wi-Fi providers) are certainly seeing the demand for in-home managed WiFi, and with customers are willing to pay for it.”
