Comcast Business is beefing up its Pennsylvania Ethernet network capabilities, announcing a $1.7 million investment to expand its fiber-based network in Harrisburg.
This network build will allow the cable MSO to reach over 600 additional businesses directly and benefit hundreds more by making the network more accessible.
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For this expansion, Comcast Business has deployed over 27 miles of new fiber cable in and near downtown Harrisburg.
“This proactive investment signals that we are committed to playing a critical role in helping Harrisburg attract, retain and grow successful businesses,” Toni Murphy, regional vice president for Comcast Business, said in a release.
Leveraging a mix of aerial and underground network infrastructure, the new fiber network will connect Jonestown Road to the northeast of downtown Harrisburg with Mechanicsburg and also includes downtown build-outs both north of the Harvey Taylor Bridge. Additionally, Comcast has connected its network to Friendship Industrial Park in Swatara Township.
Comcast Business’ latest expansion reflects the business customer growth it has seen in Central Pennsylvania and throughout its Keystone Region. As an example, Comcast Business recently joined CenturyLink in signing a five-year contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide data-networking products to the commonwealth’s agencies, commissions, councils, bureaus, authorities and boards.
The cable MSO has also constructed a 100 Gbps network connecting Penn State University’s data center with its Milton S. Hershey Medical Center facility and has also completed proactive fiber extensions in downtown Pittsburgh and Chambersburg while actively working on the completion of another in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
Expanding the reach of the fiber network comes at a time when Comcast Business continues to see growth in the small to medium business (SMB) and large business segments, a trend that was evident in its fourth-quarter earnings results.
Comcast Business reported that business services revenue rose 12.2% in the fourth quarter to $1.68 billion. The cable MSO said the revenue jump was related to increases in the number of customers receiving its small and medium-sized business services offerings.
In tandem with Charter's Spectrum Enterprise, Comcast's aggressive fiber builds have enabled it to become one of the largest Ethernet providers in the cable segment, according to Vertical Systems Group's recent cable MSO Ethernet Leaderboard.