Cable provider Cox Communications said today it successfully completed voice calling and high definition video streaming using LTE technology in the Phoenix and San Diego. It used the company’s 1.7/2.1 GHz AWS and 700 MHz spectrum holdings.
The trial was conducted in collaboration with Cox’s technology partners Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei Technologies using the 3GPP Release 8 standard of the LTE technology.
Cox plans commercial offering of the 3G-based service in March. It will start in three markets where it serves about 1.45 million cable subscribers combined: Hampton Roads, Va.; Omaha, Neb.; and Orange County, Calif.
Cox’s 3G service will rely on its own network as well as a roaming agreement with Sprint Nextel. Cox’s 4G technology and service trials utilize the AWS and 700 MHz spectrum. Cox spent over $550 million for radio spectrum licenses at FCC auctions in 2006 and 2008.
Cox didn’t say when it expects to launch LTE services commercially, but noted that it picked the Phoenix and San Diego due to their terrains and “suburban density variances.” The relatively tech-savvy base of residential and business customers in those markets also factored into the decision, the MSO said.
Although Cox intends to use AWS and 700MHz spectrum for its wireless strategy, it doesn’t have lots of the latter, notes Light Reading. The 14 “A” blocks it won cover 6.6 percent of the population, while its 8 “B” blocks cover just 0.6 percent.
Both Comcast and Time-Warner plan to offer mobile WiMAX in association with Clear. Comcast will be bundling the WiMax with cablem modem service for $49.99 per month for the first year. This gives consumers 12 Mbps at home and up to 4 Mbps while on the go. For $69.99 a month, users can get the same services and nationwide 3G access. Existing customers with the “Triple Play” package can get 4G access for an additional $30 a month.
Cox Communications plans to offer wireless cellular service using their own dedicated 700 MHz and AWS frequencies.
SpectrumCo, an AWS bidding consortium with Cox, Comcast and Time Warner Cable, picked up 137 licenses in 2006’s Advanced Wireless Services auction (at 1.7/2.1 GHz). SpectrumCo won a total of 137 AWS licenses for $2.37 billion. Comcast’s share was $1.29 billion, followed by Time Warner Cable’s $632.2 million, and Cox’s $248.3 million. (See SpectrumCo Gets Licenses). Cox paid $248.3 million for AWS licenses in 2006, and transfered those licenses out of SpectrumCo and directly to Cox.
Separately, Cox bought 700 MHz spectrum for $304M in 2008. It purchased a mix of Lower A and B block licenses. Major cities covered by those licenses include Las Vegas, Phoenix, and San Diego.
According to Cox Communications Wireless Vice President Stephen Bye, “Our networks will be using our AWS spectrum initially but we are looking to take advantage of our 700 spectrum. It’s a new band and the technology is still in its infancy but we’ll definitely take advantage of that as the ecosystem evolves around 700 MHz”.
