Summary
1. The Suddenlink CEO states, "We're not certain how important the wireless product is going to be for us.” 2. The fact of the matter is that its bigger competitors share the same sentiment. 3. Historically speaking, it is hard to have a high level of confidence when it comes to wireless plans and cable TV companies.
Analysis
Of course, the lack of steadfastness by the MSOs with wireless goes further back than “the now-defunct ‘Pivot’ joint venture.” Surely, Cox Communications is apparently bound and determined to “putting in place the foundation to get there.” It has the luxury of not having to publicly show its books.
But one cannot be as sure about other large cable companies, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cablevision Systems. There continues to be the impression that their wireless intentions are half-baked. And Comcast and Time Warner cannot possibly believe that “WiMax will provide the ‘perfect antidote to the duopoly’ of AT&T and Verizon Wireless.” The Comcast CEO refers to them as “super elephants.”
Most of the big cable companies are grappling to come up with strategies to deal with the most ominous threat they have been anticipating from the beginning with 4G. They are subject to losing a lot of cable modem business.
