Charter says fixed wireless could complement fiber-based business services

As Charter continues to extend the reach of its business services, the service provider sees potential in using some form of fixed wireless.

Tom Rutledge, CEO of Charter, told investors during its fourth-quarter earnings call that the service provider could use wireless to extend the fiber network to malls or business parks.

“If you have high capacity network you could use wirelessly to connect those business service areas, I think there are opportunities on our network to expand our enterprise business through fixed wireless drops,” Rutledge said.

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Rutledge added that while it is unclear how fixed wireless could be used in the business services arena, “I don’t see it as a mobile platform today.”

Charter is still an insurgent business player. The service provider continues to make progress in winning large and small business customers, two trends that were evident in the cable MSO’s fourth-quarter results.

During the fourth quarter, Charter reported that total residential and SMB primary service units ("PSUs") increased by 418,000, compared to 981,000 on a pro forma basis during the fourth quarter of 2015.

Charter said the year-over-year decline in customer relationships and PSU net additions was primarily driven by elevated churn on historical products in Legacy TWC markets.

Overall commercial revenue grew 11.8% to $1.42 billion. Within the business segment, small and medium business revenue was $891 million, up 13%, while enterprise grew 9.8% to $526 million. Driven by 6% and 11.8% of residential and commercial revenue growth, Charter’s total fourth-quarter revenues rose 7.2% to $10.3 billion on a pro forma basis.