Comcast exec talks fiber expansion strategy

Comcast Cable CEO David Watson highlighted the company’s efforts to accelerate expansion of its fiber network by focusing on three primary opportunities for new builds. And he noted Comcast plans to ramp testing of offload capabilities for its wireless service later in 2021. Watson said the company added 2.5 million new residential and commercial passings over the past three years, stating this was a pace it aimed to maintain. He explained its historic and future growth opportunities were focused in three key categories, including residential, commercial and edge out opportunities. Watson said the residential component was largely tied to “housing growth within our footprint,” adding Comcast and others had been “very focused” on pursuing those connections. He said the company has also targeted commercial builds, noting “when you build out in these, often – you know, the office campuses, the office parks – then you have adjacent opportunities to even build out MDUs and other single family homes that perhaps you haven’t gotten to.” Finally, he spotlighted edge out opportunities in markets adjacent to its existing footprint, stating Comcast was “very focused on that,” and over the past several years has “increased the pace” at which it pursues such expansions.