Home Delivery

Cablevision plans expanded Wi-Fi services

BY JAMES BERNSTEIN | james.bernstein@newsday.com

May 9, 2008

Article tools

E-mail

Share
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
- Facebook
- Fark
- Google
- Newsvine
- Reddit
- Yahoo

Cablevision Systems Corp. plans to dramatically expand its fledgling Wi-Fi service beyond the 15 metropolitan area communities - five of them on Long Island - where it is now offered, company officials said yesterday.

Thomas Rutledge, Cablevision's chief operating officer, said during an earnings conference call with analysts that the Bethpage-based company will expand a rollout of the Wi-Fi service and hopes to complete the project in about two years.

The service will be available without charge to Cablevision customers who have Optimum Online service, he said.

Cablevision's comments about Wi-Fi service come a few days after Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Inc. announced a partnership with Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. to build a similar nationwide broadband wireless network. [CORRECTION: A story Friday about wireless service on Long Island should have referred to BroadbandAccess service provided by Verizon Wireless. The service was given the wrong name and the company's name was incorrect. (A11 ALL 05/10/08)]

Verizon has been offering Wi-Fi service in Nassau and Suffolk counties "from stem to stern" for more than a year, a Verizon spokeswoman said.

Cablevision's LI Wi-Fi communities are Long Beach, Sag Harbor, Merrick, Northport and Huntington. Its service is also available in three communities in New Jersey, two in Connecticut, three in Westchester, one in the Bronx and along the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson ferry lines. Cablevision began offering Wi-Fi several years ago.

Cablevision officials said the plan is to offer Wi-Fi service through its network to Optimum Online customers. They will be able to access the Internet using laptops, phones or other devices when in a Wi-Fi zone, including beaches, parks or suburban streets.

Rutledge said it will cost the company approximately $100 per customer to build the Wi-Fi system. Cablevision services about 3 million homes in the metropolitan area.

Get breaking news | Most popular stories | Dining and Travel deals all via e-mail!

Would you recommend this?

Rate it: