Arizona cable operator Cable One willing to follow larger MSOs into the wireless business

Cable One, a smaller cable operator based in Phoenix, Ariz., has no current plans to build out a public Wi-Fi network or get into the wireless business in a major way. But the company's CEO told FierceCable that the company would willingly follow its larger rivals into the wireless space if they make a move into the business.

"We are too small to lead in this space, but would love to explore any successful models from the larger MSOs," said Thomas Might, Cable One's CEO, when questioned about the operator's wireless plans.

Might's comments are noteworthy considering rumors that Comcast is planning to launch an MVNO service with Verizon's network sometime this year.

And what of Cable One's Wi-Fi plans? "A good Wi-Fi experience is very important in the home and increasingly so outside the home," Might said. "Cable One is taking many steps to improve our in-home game this year. Outside the home, the mid-sized operators are starting to move slowly. We are not a leader in this space, but we are mindful of what others are doing."

To be clear, Cable One is no stranger to the wireless space. The company bought roughly $22 million worth of AWS spectrum in the FCC's 2008 auction, and Might said the carrier sold that spectrum last year for roughly four times that amount. AT&T last year inked a deal to purchase 20 MHz of AWS spectrum from Cable One in 24 cellular market areas in various states.

For the full transcript of Might's comments, see this FierceCable Hot Seat