Comcast Gets Backbone Busy

Cable company announces multiple deals with Internet backbone providers as it continues to push its Digital Voice VOIP service nationwide.

Comcast is quite serious about getting their VOIP service Digital Voice into as many homes in America as possible. They’ve been busy lately signing deals with backbone providers such as Sprint, AT&T and Level 3.

These deals will allow the cable giant to roll out their voice over IP phone service so that more of their customer base can have access to it.  This service will travel over Comcast’s privately managed network (and that of its partners) using the same wires which their high speed Internet, digital cable, video on demand and similar products use.

Comcast plans to reach 20 markets and 15 million homes with this new service in 2005, the company said earlier this year. They expect full market penetration, approximately 40 million homes, by the end of 2006.

“It’s always rewarding to do business with an important customer like Comcast,” said Kathie Morrissey, president, AT&T Global Wholesale Services. “For years, AT&T has been applying its unique networking expertise to enable cable companies to evolve their businesses. Our flexible approach to networking provides Comcast the choices they require to deliver their services — whether connectivity, voice services, content delivery, hosting, call center solutions or applications.”

“We’re pleased that Comcast has chosen Level 3 to provide backbone support for its Comcast Digital Voice rollout,” said Sureel Choksi, executive vice president of Services for Level 3. “We believe the market is poised for rapid adoption of innovative voice services and look forward to further supporting Comcast as it adds IP-based phone service to its leading suite of cable, entertainment and communications products and services.”

“Sprint looks forward to supporting Comcast’s telecommunications needs,” said Jim Patterson, vice president — Carrier, Cable and Wholesale Markets, Sprint. “Our relationship with one of the largest cable telephony providers serves as a valuable testament to our broad telecom expertise and management capabilities.”