Cox Communications has begun testing its wireless offering in three markets in preparation for a larger wireless push in 2010, a move that has analysts scratching their heads since Cox isn't using its own spectrum but rather leveraging Sprint Nextel's CDMA EV-DO network. Moreover, many expected the MSO to introduce a full commercial offering by now since announcing its intentions to jump into the wireless market more than a year ago.
Cox's initial test markets are in Hampton Roads, Va., Omaha, Neb., and Orange County, Calif. The cable company--which paid $304.6 million for 22 700 MHz spectrum licenses covering areas in California, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas and elsewhere and also owns Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum--is leveraging Sprint Nextel's CDMA EV-DO network in order to get to market faster, Cox spokeswoman Jill Ullman told FierceWireless. Cox chose to launch in the three markets for a variety of factors, she said, including the size of the markets, time-to-market requirements and customer demand.
Cox has also declined to give any details about pricing, plans or devices and won't discuss it until sometime in 2010. Ullman declined to provide a specific time frame for the wider launch. Cox previously announced it selected Huawei and Starent Networks as two key vendors for its wireless network buildout.
For more:
- see this release
- check out this FierceWireless article
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