Cox Communications has begun to take advantage of a cross-MSO Wi-Fi roaming agreement announced in May 2012.
The MSO said Monday that customers who take Cox's Preferred (25 Mbps down), Premiere (50 Mbps) or Ultimate (100 Mbps) high-speed Internet tiers can now connect to access points from Comcast and Cablevision Systems that broadcast the new “CableWiFi” SSID as part of their monthly subscription. Cox expects to add roaming support for Time Warner Cable-operated hot spots in the fourth quarter, a Cox spokesman said. Cox also has plans to integrate with hotspots operated by Bright House.
Together, those CableWiFi partners have deployed more than 150,000 quasi-public indoor and outdoor hotspots in several markets, including Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles. For its part, Cox has deployed about 1,500 access points in parts of Connecticut and Virginia.
Once a user has logged into a CableWiFi hotspot, the device will automatically recognize and logon to other CableWiFi access points for 180 days.
"Cox recognizes that our customers want quick access to information and entertainment anytime, anywhere. That's why we are committed to delivering a fast, reliable connection to the Internet when and where our customers need it," said Len Barlik, executive vice president and chief product officer, in a statement. "Not only are we providing our customers access to nearly 150,000 WiFi hotspots throughout the country, we are also making it convenient and simple for customers to locate and logon to these hotspots."
