Comcast announced a future investment plan for $100 million in fiber optic and coaxial cable to extend its network in the Chicago region.
The project spanning over the next three years will lay 50 miles of cable in a seven square mile distance at downtown Chicago which will cover the Loop, River North and River West.
This project, if accomplished, will be the largest single concentrated fiber expansion in the company history.
The company is attempting to match the escalating requirements of Chicago tech firms as well as expanded internet, video, voice and home security and automation services for residential customers.
The project will also cover the Back of the Yards and Bridgeport neighborhoods in the Peterson-Pulaski business district near O’Hare.
The company network passes nearly 90 percent of businesses and an even greater percent of households, resulting in it delivering services across all city neighborhoods, including its recently announced Internet service that will deliver up to 1 Gbps download speeds over the current company network starting later this year.
“Chicago is the largest metropolitan area Comcast serves. We live, work and provide service here, so these projects are more than just good business. They’re an investment in the region’s economic future – a future we all share,” said John Crowley, senior vice president of Comcast.
The fiber optic network will be available to 30,000 additional residences in the area. The company also plans on launching gigabit internet speeds to Chicago for which it has introduced a new modem which is being tested in the market and permits 1 gigabit-per-second speeds on the present network.
AT&T has been offering similar high-speed offerings in the area tagged GigaPower Internet since June 2015, with services in more than 25 communities.
Comcast has invested in about $300 million annually, in the previous 20 years, in its network in its Greater Chicago Region and has built installed about 11,000 miles of fiber across the region.
Vina Krishnan
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