BETHPAGE, N.Y., June 11, 2009 -- Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced that its Optimum Online customers have accessed the Internet more than two million times for free over Optimum WiFi, and are averaging more than one million minutes online per day. With thousands of new users discovering and using the service every week, Optimum WiFi marked its second million user sessions in less than half the time it took to surpass the one million-session milestone - less than three months.
Consumer electronic manufacturers have embraced WiFi technology, with more than 5,000 different types of devices currently available in the marketplace that are certified to operate over WiFi. Apple® has reported that it has sold more than 40 million WiFi-enabled iPhonestm and iPods® thus far. Palm, in conjunction with Sprint, recently introduced the WiFi-enabled Palm® Pretm. Some BlackBerry® smartphones such as the Curve, Bold, and Pearl can operate over WiFi with cellular service providers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Verizon Wireless currently blocks WiFi on most of its customers' smartphones, making it impossible for these customers to take advantage of the speed and convenience of broadly available WiFi.
The nation's largest and most advanced WiFi network is now broadly available across Cablevision's Long Island, Connecticut, Westchester/Dutchess and New Jersey service areas. Thousands of WiFi access points have been deployed in high-traffic and commercial locations like downtown areas, parks and other outdoor locations. Optimum WiFi has also been activated on hundreds of commuter rail platforms and station parking lots. Offering downstream speeds of up to 3 megabits-per-second (Mbps), Optimum WiFi is more than twice as fast as many expensive cell phone data plans that can cost upwards of $100 per month.
"We are building our WiFi network as a value-added extension of our residential and business-based Internet products, so it's extremely gratifying to know that our Optimum Online customers have already accessed the Internet more than two million times over Optimum WiFi, and are averaging more than one million free minutes online per day," said Kevin Curran, Cablevision's senior vice president of wireless product development. "Offering fast, free and convenient Internet access, Optimum WiFi has exploded in popularity, as more of our customers are finding and using the network every day."
Optimum WiFi is an extension of Cablevision's award-winning Optimum Online high-speed Internet service, the most highly penetrated Internet service in the nation with approximately 2.5 million customers and a broadband market share of approximately 75 percent in the company's service area. By extending the Optimum network wirelessly to commercial and high-traffic locations throughout Cablevision's footprint, Optimum Online customers can stay connected wherever they are at no additional cost. Time spent waiting for a train or sitting on a downtown bench can be used for work or fun online - to check e-mail, download music, watch a mobile video, blog, monitor RSS feeds, get directions or post updates to Twitter or Facebook.
Detailed information on Optimum WiFi and interactive network coverage maps are available at http://www.optimumwifi.com [1]. Cablevision began activating Optimum WiFi last year and expects to complete the deployment across its entire service area in early 2010.
Optimum Online customers using devices that are enabled with WiFi - the same wireless Internet standard more than half of Cablevision's Optimum Online customers use at home through wireless broadband routers - can access Optimum WiFi through a simple sign-on screen. Once a customer logs into the service by entering their Optimum User ID and password, the network delivers speeds of up to 3.0 Mbps downstream and 1.5 Mbps upstream.
About Cablevision
Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC) is one of the nation's leading media and entertainment companies. Its cable television operations serve more than 3 million households in the New York metropolitan area. The company's advanced telecommunications offerings include its iO TV® digital television, Optimum Online® high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice® digital voice-over-cable, and its Optimum Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv, through Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, and serves the New York area as publisher of Newsday and other niche publications through Newsday Media Group. In addition to these businesses, Cablevision owns Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. The company also operates New York's famed Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, and the Chicago Theatre, and owns and operates Clearview Cinemas.
Links:
[1] http://www.optimumwifi.com/