Time Warner Cable has invested $15 million to build a Wi-Fi network in the Los Angeles metro area -- spanning 40 square miles in Southern California -- that's free to broadband customers, while the MSO said it is approaching 50% rollout if its 50-Mbps service in the region.
In addition, Time Warner Cable announced the Wideband 50 Internet service, a DOCSIS 3.0-based high-speed data service that provides downstream speeds of up to 50 Mbps, is available to nearly 50% of homes passed in the L.A. region. The MSO expects Wideband access to be fully deployed by the end of 2012.
The wireless network buildout follows TWC's Wi-Fi launch last year in New York City, where the MSO has reciprocal-access agreements with Cablevision Systems and Comcast.
In L.A., Time Warner Cable's Wi-Fi network will include areas in Venice Beach, West Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Newport Beach and other cities within Orange County. The operator will offer a pay-as-you-go, fee-based service to non-TWC customers.
Time Warner Cable's L.A. cluster serves about 1.7 million customers in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
To find the Time Warner Cable Wi-Fi network, customers should look for the network ID "TWCWiFi" on Wi-Fi-capable devices and sign in their Road Runner address and password.
"Time Warner Cable is committed to making Internet access fast, easy and accessible to all," said John Keib, president of residential services for Time Warner Cable's West Region. "Through TWC Wi-Fi, with our one-time authentication process, Time Warner Cable customers, whether local or visiting, will be able to quickly connect to the Internet for no additional cost from their tablet, iPad, mobile phone or laptop, wherever they are."
Non-TWC customers or TWC customers who do not have an Internet plan can purchase an "Access Pass" to be able to use TWC Wi-Fi service per hour, day, week or month. Non-sub Wi-Fi pricing is: hourly, $2.95; daily, $6.95; weekly, $19.95; and monthly, $49.95.
