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US: Comcast teases plans to upend the mobile market

 |  April 9, 2014

As rumors heat up of a possible Google-owned wireless network, reports say Comcast could also be hopping on the mobile voice bandwagon should its acquisition of Time Warner Cable receive approval.

According to reports, Comcast teased the possibility of establishing its own mobile voice services in its filing with the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC, along with the Department of Justice, will review its proposed $45 billion merger with TWC.

To convince critics of the cable merger, Comcast reportedly stated to the FCC that the buyout would allow the company to expand the number of Wi-Fi access locations throughout the nation. With that, the company said, it “could make a ‘Wi-Fi-first’ service, which combines commercial mobile radio service with Wi-Fi, a more viable alternative.”

That idea, say reports, likely means Comcast is looking at using Wi-Fi to connect wireless calls.

According to reports, Comcast’s hypothetical plans could upend the wireless industry and its current top four players, especially if Google is planning something similar.

Google is said to be considering a service to offer wireless data to Google Fiber subscribers, which would also see voice calls being connected over Wi-Fi on Google’s networks.

Full Content: The Register

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