Comcast targets Annapolis, Maryland, businesses with 100 GigE services, enhances revenue potential

Comcast Business is bringing its 100 GigE service to Annapolis, Maryland, laying further challenge to area incumbent telco Verizon. By introducing the 100 GigE service, Comcast Business can bring a new service option to over 900 local businesses, schools, hospitals and other local organizations.

Initially, Comcast Business’ expansion will encompass large business districts in the Annapolis area that extend from City Dock through Parole and beyond.

Upon completion, the network will enable Comcast Business to provide businesses and government organizations with a mix of Ethernet, internet and advanced voice solutions in areas of economic growth, including the Annapolis Mall, Annapolis Towne Centre in Parole, Festival at Riva, and the Riva Road County Government campus.

Availability of gigabit services will also make the Annapolis area more attractive to businesses that want to locate facilities there.

“Knowing these organizations now have access to multi-Gigabit Ethernet services from Comcast Business will make our community even more appealing to those businesses while also helping us attract new ones,” said Tami Howie, executive director of the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council, in a release.

This Ethernet buildout will provide businesses with access to a suite of multi-Gigabit Ethernet options that will help meet the day-to-day demands of organizations requiring large amounts of bandwidth, looking to link multiple sites or branch locations or planning to connect their offices to a third-party data center.

Annapolis is just one of several areas where Comcast Business is expanding the availability of its fiber networks to deliver 100 GigE services.

The service provider also announced similar builds in Tallahassee and Virginia.

Enhancing its network with 100 GigE capabilities comes as the business market is being shaken up by mergers and acquisitions.

Comcast Business will face a greater challenge from Verizon when the telco completes its acquisition of XO Communications. By acquiring XO, Verizon immediately deepens its fiber and Ethernet footprint in Northeast markets like Virginia. XO will give Verizon entry to 40 major U.S. metro markets with over 4,000 on-net buildings and 1.2 million fiber miles.

Regardless of its challenges, Comcast Business is making progress with its revenue mix, reporting that second quarter revenues rose 17 percent to $1.4 billion.

The cable MSO told investors during its second quarter call that while small business is still the major growth driver, they are signing deals to provide connectivity to branch offices of large businesses.

For more:
- see the release

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