Ushering in the Future of Connectivity

The next generation of connectivity will rely on a variety of technologies. That’s why Charter is leveraging our existing infrastructure in conjunction with new technologies.

We are conducting small cell tests using the 3.5 GHz spectrum, or Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), in a variety of environments across the country – testing fixed wireless in some markets and mobility solutions in others like Tampa. Our 3.5 GHz trials are one of the largest in the country. These tests will establish a path forward as we prepare to launch our mobile wireless service later this year, expanding our offerings and bringing new competition to the wireless marketplace for consumers.

In Tampa specifically, our engineers are using a number of vendors and 200 hundred small cell sites to test the technologies in a variety of urban, suburban, industrial and residential settings. This includes testing the connectivity using popular consumer apps and video streaming. We are excited about the fast speeds and seamless handover we have seen to date and what the overall results can mean for the evolution of wireless technology and a future of ubiquitous connectivity.

In addition to the work we are doing in Tampa, we are continuously investing in our networks to better serve our customers across our 41 state footprint. Last year, Charter committed to make a significant investment in capital infrastructure by 2020. Already those investments have meant we’ve been able to extend the reach of our high-speed broadband network – including to underserved and unserved homes and businesses in rural areas like Lakeview, Oregon, Meeker, Colorado, and communities across New York State.

We’re leveraging our existing infrastructure and testing ways to integrate 4G LTE and 5G wireless capabilities to all work together. This includes the more than 200 million wireless devices attached to our advanced WiFi network and over 500,000 public Wifi hotspots. This will allow us to enhance the mobile service we plan to launch mid-year and to extend the reach of our existing network infrastructure, enabling us to deliver the next generation of broadband services to our customers.

Our goal is to use a combination of WiFi, 4G LTE and 5G to harness the capabilities of these wireless technologies while leveraging our existing infrastructure – to create ubiquitous connectivity for our customers.

We’re entering a new frontier in wireless technology which will connect people in ways that didn’t seem possible. The next generation of connectivity will create new opportunities for consumers, businesses and our economy in the years to come – and Charter is at the forefront.