Comcast Business Teams With Canadian Carrier To Extend Managed Broadband Coverage
The cable giant is working with Canadian network service provider iTel Networks Inc. to bring its managed broadband services to specific U.S.-based businesses with Canadian locations.
Comcast Business has teamed up with iTel Networks Inc., a Canadian network service provider to stretch its managed broadband services footprint into that country.
The newly-inked access agreement between Comcast Business and iTel Networks will allow Comcast to deliver custom connectivity services to specific U.S.-based enterprises with a presence in Canada, according to the Philadelphia-based cable giant.
“Our Enterprise Solutions team has uncovered a wealth of opportunities for Comcast Business to deliver services outside the U.S. Many of our existing enterprise customers and prospects have locations outside the United States; in particular, in Canada,” Glenn Katz, senior vice president and general manager of Comcast Business Enterprise Solutions, said in a statement on Wednesday. “We’re excited to announce that we are leveraging this exciting new relationship with iTel Networks to serve our managed broadband enterprise customers’ Canadian locations.”
[Related: Comcast SDN Platform Will Help Partners Move Into A 'New Frontier' With The Cable Giant]
Right now, the partnership between Comcast and iTel only extends to Comcast's national accounts, an abbreviated list of Comcast customers. "In cases where our partners team with us in these accounts, this is a great addition to the Comcast footprint for offnet services in Canada," said Craig Schlagbaum, vice president of indirect channels for Comcast Business.
For these national accounts, Comcast Business can now offer connectivity solutions that include a mix of access technologies to even the most remote locations across the U.S. and Canada, which will simplify network management for both businesses and channel partners supporting these customers, according to the company.
Comcast Business’ managed broadband service gives businesses a single-service provider offering that oversees order management, installation, account management, and billing for all on-net and off-net locations. The service can also provide network monitoring through geographically diverse Network Operations Centers (NOCs) located in the continental U.S., as well as 24/7 support for all managed broadband locations, Comcast said.
Comcast hasn't been shy about connectivity being the company's focal point, despite the cable conglomerate having many business units aside from TV, internet, and phone, such as filmed entertainment and theme parks. Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts told investors during the company's second-quarter 2019 earnings call in July that the company was on track to have its 14th consecutive year of 1 million broadband net additions in the U.S. and that Comcast is seeing a "solid pipeline" for broadband innovation that will help its build on its consistently strong connectivity revenue.