Comcast will launch a mobile service by mid-2017, as part of its strategy to retain customers, CEO Brian Roberts announced during the Goldman Sachs investor conference, the Wall Street Journal reported. "We believe there will be a big payback with reduced churn, more stickiness and better satisfaction," Roberts said. The CEO declined to offer any further details about the service, including pricing and which phones will be supported.
Roberts said the new line of business will take advantage of Comcast’s 15 million Wi-Fi hot spots and use airwaves leased from Verizon. Comcast signed a deal with Verizon in 2011 under which it can sell mobile service using the carrier’s network. Roberts said because Comcast is renting Verizon’s network, the company won’t need to make any major investments into the line, such as for cell towers or other infrastructure.
Comcast will market the mobile service inside its footprint to existing and potential Comcast cable customers, as opposed to nationwide. The company is interested in up-selling customers to a bigger bundle of services, the CEO said.
At the conference, Roberts also introduced Comcast’s newly integrated Netflix experience on its next-generation X1 set-top box and guide. The CEO added that Comcast is in discussions with several other video streaming providers to integrate their services into the X1 box.
