Charter Communications expects wireless broadband opportunities

Cable operator Charter Communications is eyeing opportunities to offer a wireless broadband service over the next five years that would rely on both unlicensed spectrum such as Wi-Fi and licensed spectrum that the company might purchase. "The whole reality of the broadband network combined with a Wi-Fi [network] and a licensed spectrum network is an interesting opportunity for us five years from now," said Charter CEO Tom Rutledge during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in San Francisco. Rutledge, whose remarks were reported by our sister publication FierceCable, indicated cable operators could even use Wi-Fi to offer voice services. "I think a relationship with companies that have licensed spectrum, maybe [Dish Network Chairman] Charlie Ergen, or the acquisition of unlicensed spectrum, would work well with licensed spectrum," he added. For more, see this FierceCable article.