Cox initiates major Wi-Fi deployment in Phoenix

The city of Phoenix, Ariz., has announced the deployment of 500 Cox Communications Wi-Fi hotspots.

Cox, which has already conducted a significant rollout of high-speed residential Internet service in the Valley of the Sun, plans to have 1,200 hotspots deployed in the Phoenix area by the end of 2014. It wants to close 2015 with as many as 2,500 hotspots placed in the region.

The focus on Phoenix is part of a major Wi-Fi push being made by cable companies, who collectively hope to deploy as many as 4 million Wi-Fi hotspots across the U.S. in 2015.

"In addition to the incredible speeds Cox offers in the home, our customers want access to reliable high-speed Internet wherever they are," said Susan Anable, VP of public affairs for Cox's Southwest region. "Cox has invested more than $3 billion in Arizona communities through infrastructure upgrades since 1996. This investment has readied us to take the step of offering hotspots all over the Valley, so our customers can access the Internet not just within the walls of their homes, but to the corners of their community."

"As users' needs and behaviors continue to change over time, especially with the explosive growth of smart phones, tablets and other connected devices, Cox's launch of a Wi-Fi network makes Phoenix a more attractive, livable, high-tech city," said Councilman Bill Gates, who chairs Phoenix's Finance, Efficiency, Economy and Sustainability subcommittee.

For more:
- read this Arizona Republic story
- read this Multichannel News story

Related links:
Cable sees big future in Wi-Fi as video gives way to OTT, high programming costs
ABI Research: Carrier Wi-Fi revenues to hit $8B by 2019
Report: Service providers to deploy more than 4M public Wi-Fi hotspots in 2015