5 reasons cable operators are building public Wi-Fi networks

It's no secret that the nation's cable companies are making a serious investment in public Wi-Fi networks. Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and others are building out hundreds of thousands of public hotspots that their customers can access for free. Moreover, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable already enable roaming across 250,000 of their individual hotspots via the "CableWiFi" initiative, without requiring the use of Hotspot 2.0/Passpoint technology.

But why are the nation's cable companies investing in Wi-Fi technology? And will this latest attempt by the cable industry to get into wireless grow into a success, unlike past attempts like Pivot?

"The cable operators for obvious reasons are diligent about quad play and they want to make sure that when demand for a quad play really emerges, they'll be in the right place at the right time with the right facilities," said Craig Moffett, senior analyst at MoffettNathanson Research.

These are the questions FierceWirelessTech Editor Tammy Parker is tackling in this latest special report.