Wave Broadband launched fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) service to NEMA, a building with 750 units in San Francisco, on June 11. Wave's service, which offers symmetrical speeds, will cost $80 for 1 Gbps or $60 for 100 Mbps.
Wave is using active Ethernet for the service. Fiber is run to wiring closets within the building and transmitted over category 5e cable for the remaining distance within the building. Next, a truck is rolled and the installer makes the connection within the wiring closet and then visits the customer. Though some customers have routers that are not capable of fiber speeds, Wave will provide a new router if necessary.
In some cases, the installer needs to educate the customer about how to get optimal speeds. For example, if the customer is using Wi-Fi and wants improved performance, they can upgrade a router, or opt for a hardwired connection.
Wave focuses on providing FTTP and HFC (hybrid fiber-coax) services to multi-dwelling unit customers on the West Coast, including the markets of San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and Sacramento. The company currently has 420,000 customer connections, including broadband, TV and telephone as well as business services.
Company officials say that Wave's business revenues are rising faster than its consumer revenues. The company has $350 million in annual revenues and is profitable.
Wave has amassed its network and customers based on 17 acquisitions, including a number of FTTP and HFC service providers. One acquisition was the San Francisco network of RCN, which was sold to Astound Broadband in 2007 before combining with Wave in 2012. In April, Wave announced the acquisition of ReallyFast.net, a company that provides fiber services in the Seattle area.
For more:
- see this FierceTelecom article
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