Comcast Business
{{Short description|Business communications division of Comcast}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Comcast Business
| logo = 225px
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| type = Subsidiary
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| industry = Telecommunications
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| foundation = {{Start date and age|2006|8|7}}
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| location_city = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| location_country = United States
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| key_people = Bill Stemper (president)
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| services = Internet, phone, and Ethernet
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| parent = Comcast
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| subsid = Blueface
| homepage = {{URL|https://business.comcast.com/|business.comcast.com}}
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Comcast Business is a subsidiary of Comcast, which, through several iterations, has handled the sales, marketing, and delivery of internet, phone, and cable television to businesses (in contrast, consumer services are primarily offered under the Xfinity brand).{{cite news|last=Dickson|first=Glen|title=Comcast Speeds Up Business High-Speed-Data Offering|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/113495-Comcast_Speeds_Up_Business_High_Speed_Data_Offering.php|access-date=27 October 2013|newspaper=Broadcasting and Cable|date=April 29, 2008}}{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/print-edition/2010/11/19/business-unit-of-comcast-breaks-1b.html?page=all |title=Business unit of Comcast breaks $1B|newspaper=Philadelphia Business Journal|author=Peter Key|date=19 Nov 2010|access-date=24 Mar 2014}} In 2012, Comcast Business grew by 34%, the fastest growth of any of Comcast's products in 2012, reaching $2.4 billion in revenue.{{cite news|title=Comcast Expands Business Services|url=http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/99610/Comcast-Expands-Business-Services|access-date=27 October 2013|newspaper=Zacks|date=May 16, 2013}}{{cite news| url= http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/peter-key/2013/02/comcasts-fastest-growing-business-not.html?page=all |title= Comcast's Business Services unit not exactly growing Slowsky|first=Peter |last=Key |newspaper=Philadelphia Business Journal|date=February 20, 2013}} In 2013, Comcast Business generated $3.2 billion in revenue, an increase of 26% over 2012 revenue.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-comcast-twc-business-analysis-idUSBREA3022F20140401 |title= Comcast: Business services is sweet spot in Time Warner Cable deal | work=Reuters | date=April 1, 2014}}
History
=Comcast Commercial Online=
On December 3, 1997, Comcast's subsidiary, Comcast Commercial Online Communications Inc., launched the Comcast Commercial Internet Service, offering internet services to businesses through a cable modem, with data sent over the @Home Network.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Comcast+Commercial+Online+Launches+First+Commercial+Cable+Modem...-a020038636|title=Comcast Commercial Online Launches First Commercial Cable Modem Internet Service in the U.S.|publisher=PRNewswire|date=3 Dec 1997|access-date=5 Apr 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Comcast+Commercial+Online+Teams+with+Critical+Path+to+Offer...-a055135430|title=Comcast Commercial Online Teams with Critical Path to Offer State-of-the-Art Email Services to Select Customers.|publisher=PRNewswire|date=13 Jul 1999|access-date=5 Apr 2014}} On January 24, 2000, Comcast Commercial Online announced a partnership with click2send.com (TM), Inc.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Comcast+Commercial+Online+and+click2send.com+Agreement+Expands...-a058912284|title=Comcast Commercial Online and click2send.com Agreement Expands Services for Small Businesses; New Service Facilitates Online File Delivery, Handling and Storage.|publisher=PRnewswire|date=January 24, 2000|access-date=5 Apr 2014}} The stock of the @Home Network collapsed during the mid-2000 dot-com bubble, bankrupting @Home, and Comcast moved subscribers to their own network instead of selling though a third party.
=Comcast Telecommunications=
In January 1998, Comcast acquired GlobalCom Telecommunications, Inc., re-branding it Comcast Telecommunications, Inc.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/21/business/comcast-to-buy-globalcom.html|title=Comcast to Buy Globalcom|website=The New York Times|date=21 Jan 1998|access-date=6 Apr 2014}} As of 1998, Comcast Telecommunications offered Businesses phone service of several kinds, and worked with Comcast Commercial to sell internet services.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Comcast+Telecommunications%2c+Inc.+Signs+Agreement+with+Lucent...-a021114823| title=Comcast Telecommunications, Inc. Signs Agreement with Lucent Technologies|publisher=PR Newswire|date=10 Sep 1998|access-date=6 Apr 2014}}
=Comcast Business Communications=
Following the burst of the dot com bubble, Comcast launched Comcast Business Communications LLC, folding three smaller business subsidiaries into the company, and offering Comcast Commercial Internet Service 2.0.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comcast-business-communications-hits-a-home-run-with-detroits-comerica-park-71752402.html|title=Comcast Business Communications Hits a Home Run with Detroit's Comerica Park|publisher=PR Newswire|author=Comcast Business Communications|access-date=24 Mar 2014}} On September 14, 2000, Comcast Business Communications received a $6.5 million grant from the New Jersey Business Employment Incentive program, through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.{{cite web|url=http://www.njeda.com/web/pdf/BEIP_Activity_Alphabetical.pdf|title=EXECUTED BEIP GRANTS FROM 06/01/1996 TO 12/31/2013|publisher=New Jersey Economic Development Authority|access-date=25 Mar 2014}} Comcast Business Communications is based in Moorestown, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.comcast.com/about/pressrelease/pressreleasedetail.ashx?prid=405&SCRedirect=true|title=Comcast Cable Communications and Comcast Business Communications Name Klayton Fennell Director of Government Affairs|date=15 Oct 2001|access-date=25 Mar 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325100237/http://www.comcast.com/about/pressrelease/pressreleasedetail.ashx?prid=405&SCRedirect=true|archive-date=25 March 2014|url-status=dead}} In 2001, Comcast had launched Comcast Business Communications in Baltimore,{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2001-02-12/business/25319777_1_philadelphia-s-comcast-corp-john-alchin-comcast-business-communications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325083011/http://articles.philly.com/2001-02-12/business/25319777_1_philadelphia-s-comcast-corp-john-alchin-comcast-business-communications|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 25, 2014|title=Comcast Targets Smaller Business As A Growth Area The Goal Is To Make Better Use Of Its Fiber-optic Network. Its New Unit Expects To Serve Mainly Suburban Companies.|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|author=Patricia Horn|date=12 Feb 2001|access-date=25 Mar 2014}} and planned to spend about $250 million to launch CBC into a total of eight markets.{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2001-02-27/business/25317042_1_philadelphia-s-comcast-corp-lenfest-communications-cable-tv-subscribers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325071342/http://articles.philly.com/2001-02-27/business/25317042_1_philadelphia-s-comcast-corp-lenfest-communications-cable-tv-subscribers|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 25, 2014|title=Comcast Doubles Profit To $2 Billion A Subscriber Exchange And New Products Aided 2000's Results, The Provider Of Cable-tv Service Said.|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|author= Patricia Horn|date=27 Feb 2001|access-date=25 Mar 2014}} After about year as the vice president of CBC, Comcast named Bill M. Keane the president of CBC on March 29, 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.comcast.com/About/PressRelease/PressReleaseDetail.ashx?prid=427&SCRedirect=true|title=Comcast Names Robert M. Keane President of Comcast Business Communications|publisher=Comcast|date=29 Mar 2001|access-date=6 Apr 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407093123/http://www.comcast.com/About/PressRelease/PressReleaseDetail.ashx?prid=427&SCRedirect=true|archive-date=7 April 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Schools+Make+a+Pledge+to+End+Violence%3b+92.5+XTU+and+Comcast+Business...-a074324151|title=Schools Make a Pledge to End Violence; 92.5 XTU and Comcast Business Communications Team Up to Reward Students for Their Anti-Violence Efforts.|publisher=PRNewswire|date=9 May 2001|access-date=6 Apr 2014}} By December 2002, he had left Comcast for Cavalier Telephone.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cavalier+Telephone+Appoints+Robert+M.+Keane+As+President+and+Chief...-a095110198|title=Cavalier Telephone Appoints Robert M. Keane As President and Chief Operating Officer.|publisher=PR Newswire|date=9 Dec 2002|access-date=6 Apr 2014}}
Products and services
On August 7, 2006, Bill Stemper was named president of Comcast Business Services, taking over management of existing business products.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmcsa.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=394627|title=Comcast Names William Stemper President of Comcast Business Services|publisher=Comcast|date=7 Aug 2006|access-date=25 Mar 2014}} The division initially focused on expanding on small business offerings.{{cite web|url=http://corporate.comcast.com/comcast-voices/qa-with-bill-stemper-president-of-comcast-business-services|title=Q&A with Bill Stemper, President of Comcast Business Services|publisher=Comcast|date=12 Feb 2013|access-date=24 Mar 2014}}{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/print-edition/2011/04/15/comcast-aims-at-businesses.html?page=all |title=Comcast aims at businesses |newspaper=Portland Business Journal |date=April 15, 2011|first=Erik |last=Siemers}}
By 2010, the company's investment in "massive amounts of fiber" for its cable television operations enabled it to include medium-sized businesses of 20 to 250 employees. By February 2011, Comcast Business began its rollout of metro Ethernet for large businesses,{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2011/02/04/comcast-lures-big-business.html?page=all |title=Comcast lures big business with fast broadband speed|newspaper=Denver Business Journal|author=Greg Avery|date=4 Feb 2011|access-date=24 Mar 2014}} and in March 2011, Comcast Business launched its business telephone service called Comcast Business Class Trunk Service, and completed its initial rollout of metro Ethernet in May 2011, providing services for large businesses to 25 markets.{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/print-edition/2011/05/27/new-comcast-ethernet-service-connects.html?page=all |title=New Comcast ethernet service connects multiple offices|newspaper=Philadelphia Business Journal|date=May 27, 2011 |first=Peter |last=Key}} Comcast Business expanded market presence throughout 2011,{{cite press release |author= |title=Comcast Business Services Extends Availability of its Metro Ethernet Services through its Solutions Provider Program |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110824005803/en/Comcast-Business-Services-Extends-Availability-Metro-Ethernet |location=Philadelphia and Chicago |publisher=Business Wire |date=2011-08-24 |access-date=2013-11-25}} and continues to expand as of 2013.{{cite press release |author= |title=Comcast Extends Network to Underserved Commercial Areas In Kitsap County - WSJ.com |url=https://www.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20131113-910397.html |location=Seattle |website=The Wall Street Journal |date=2013-11-13 |access-date=2013-11-25}} By 2012, the Business Services division had the highest growth rate of any of Comcast's services. The division's revenue has increased every year since 2006, when the division's earnings were $265 million. By 2013, Comcast Business had become the largest business-facing enterprise, by revenue, of all cable providers who provide services to businesses.{{cite news |url=http://www.lightreading.com/heavy-reading-cable-biz-sales-to-hit-$85b/d/d-id/706824 |title=Heavy Reading: Cable Biz Sales to Hit $8.5B |publisher=Light Reading}} Comcast Business generated $3.24 billion in 2013, an increase of 26.4% from 2012,{{cite web |url=http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/comcast-business-time-warner-cable-become-bigger-factor-ethernet-race-says/2014-02-20 |title=Comcast Business, Time Warner Cable become a bigger factor in the Ethernet race, says VSG - FierceEnterpriseCommunications}} when the revenue of Comcast Business was about $2.4 billion.{{cite web |url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2014/01/28/comcast-beats-on-revenue-announces-buyback/ |title=Comcast Adds Video Subscribers, Reveals $3B Buyback |publisher=Fox Business |access-date=2014-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402175603/http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2014/01/28/comcast-beats-on-revenue-announces-buyback/ |archive-date=2015-04-02 |url-status=dead }}
Initially, Comcast Business targeted businesses with 20 employees or less, such as florists, dry cleaners,{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-comcast-new-york-time-warner-cable-20131219,0,2079005.story#axzz2oKnFEv8u |title=For Comcast, Time Warner Cable's New York unit could be big business - latimes.com | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Joe |last=Flint |date=December 19, 2013}} and bakeries, but with continued expansion, Comcast Business is now able to serve medium-sized businesses such as clinics,{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nhs-human-services-connects-more-than-700-mental-health-clinics-with-sip-trunks-from-comcast-business-244884521.html |title=NHS Human Services Connects More Than 700 Mental Health Clinics With...}} hotels and the hospitality industry, as well as large organizations such as the Boston Ballet,{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/12/10/boston-ballet-turns-comcast/fZjYY1wKIjzAu8C9caFN7K/story.html |title=Boston Ballet turns to Comcast - Business - The Boston Globe}} and sports arenas,{{cite web |url=http://btreport.net/2014/01/touchdown-comcast-biz-scores-sports-teams/ |title=Touchdown! Comcast Biz Scores for Sports Teams - Broadband Technology Report - Technology news for broadband providers, interactive tv & broadband gear.}} including arenas for the Boston Celtics, the Boston Red Sox, the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Washington Nationals, the Oakland A's,{{cite web |url= http://www.multichannel.com/distribution/comcast-business-scores-oakland-a%E2%80%99s-deal/145856 |title=Comcast Business Scores Oakland A's Deal |publisher=Multichannel.com}}{{cite web| url=http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131002&content_id=62332304&vkey=pr_oak&c_id=oak | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185339/http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131002&content_id=62332304&vkey=pr_oak&c_id=oak | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 29, 2013 |title= Athletics make their network an All-Star with Ethernet from Comcast Business |publisher=Oakland Athletics}} and the Detroit Tigers.{{cite web |url=http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/10/06/comcast-builds-gigabit-data-pipeline-for-comerica-park/ |title=Comcast Builds Bigger Data Pipeline For Comerica Park « CBS Detroit|date=2013-10-06}} In February 2014, Comcast Business was recognized as the fastest growing company based on 2013 carrier Ethernet provisions.{{cite web |url=http://www.channelpartnersonline.com/news/2014/02/cablecos-gain-ground-in-ethernet-but-at-t-verizon.aspx |title=Cablecos Gain Ground in Ethernet, But AT&T, Verizon Still Lead|date=2017-05-23}}{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140212-916072.html |title=Comcast Business Named Fastest Growing Company Ranked on Vertical Systems Group's Year-End 2013 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD - WSJ.com | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=February 12, 2014}}
In 2013, Stemper was given a Vanguard Award from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association in the "operations and management" category.{{cite web| url=http://www.cedmagazine.com/articles/2013/06/comcasts-stemper-takes-care-of-business |title= Comcast's Stemper takes care of business|date=June 18, 2013 |first=Mike |last=Robuck|publisher=CEDMagazine.com}} In February 2013, the Metro Ethernet Forum announced that Comcast Business was the first carrier Ethernet provider to be certified CE 2.0 compliant.{{cite web |url=http://corporate.comcast.com/news-information/news-feed/comcast-business-services-is-the-worlds-first-carrier-ethernet-2-0-service-provider |title=Comcast Business Services is the World's First Carrier Ethernet 2.0 Service Provider|date=2013-02-15}}{{cite web |url=http://metroethernetforum.org/carrier-ethernet-services/carrier-ethernet-and-ce-2-0 |title=Carrier Ethernet and CE 2.0 - CE-Services |access-date=2013-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226103831/http://metroethernetforum.org/carrier-ethernet-services/carrier-ethernet-and-ce-2-0 |archive-date=2013-12-26 |url-status=dead }} In November 2013, Comcast Business was awarded Service Provider of the Year award by the Metro Ethernet Forum,{{cite web |url=http://www.channelpartnersonline.com/news/2013/11/comcast-verizon-big-winners-in-carrier-ethernet-awards.aspx |title=Comcast, Verizon Big Winners in Carrier Ethernet Awards|date=November 20, 2013 |first= Daniel |last=Santa Cruz|publisher=channelpartnersonline.com}} in addition to Best Carrier Ethernet Business Application for its deployment with the Denver Broncos, and for Best Marketing.{{cite web| url=http://www.multichannel.com/distribution/comcast-business-scores-top-mef-honor/146885 |title=Comcast Business Scores Top MEF Honor |publisher=Multichannel.com}} According to a mid-year 2014 leaderboard report on Ethernet by Vertical Systems Group, Comcast Business grew more than any other U.S. provider, rising to sixth place (from eighth).[http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/comcast-rises-us-ethernet-rankings/383285 Comcast Rises In U.S. Ethernet Rankings Jumps Two Spots In Vertical Systems' Latest Leaderboard], Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News, August 21, 2014.[http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/comcast-business-threatens-verizon-expanding-ethernet-fiber-presence-10-new/2014-08-21 Comcast Business threatens Verizon by expanding Ethernet, fiber presence in 10 New York communities], Sean Buckley, FierceTelecom, August 21, 2014.
Comcast Business won four of Metro Ethernet Forum's "Ethernet Excellence Awards", presented on November 19, 2014, at the annual Global Ethernet Networking conference in Washington DC. Comcast Business president Bill Stemper was awarded Ethernet Industry Person of the Year, and Comcast Business received two awards for Best Application of the Year for government and health applications, and Best Service of the Year for North America.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/102201026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129134019/http://www.cnbc.com/id/102201026 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |title=MEF Announces Winners for 2014 Ethernet Excellence Awards Presented at GEN14 Gala Evening}}{{cite web |url=http://www.metroethernetforum.org/Ethernet_Excellence_Awards |title=Metro Ethernet Forum}}
In 2020, Comcast bought Irish telecommunications company Blueface founded by Feargal Brady and Aaron Clauson in 2004 to challenge the status quo of telecommunications and provide innovation in communications.https://www.blueface.com/blog/feargal-brady-voip-communication/ Feargal Brady VoiP Communication
. Bill Stemper, the president of Comcast Business, said buying Blueface would give his division's customers "access to industry-leading audio and video tools to connect employees across devices and locations".[https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/comcast-acquires-irish-cloud-based-telco-blueface-1.4151988 Comcast Acquires Irish Cloud Communications Telco Blueface August 27, 2020.]
=High-speed Internet=
Comcast's business Internet plans are similar to their residential plans, with slightly different speed offerings and prices. Notably, the main difference between Comcast's residential Internet and Business Internet is the lack of a monthly data cap with the business plans.{{cite web|url=http://business.comcast.com/customer-notifications/acceptable-use-policy|title=Acceptable Use Policy}} In addition to their standard DOCSIS service, Comcast also offers SD-WAN via Comcast Business ActiveCore,{{cite web |title=ActiveCore SDN - Comcast Business |url=https://business.comcast.com/sdn}} and Carrier Ethernet services for businesses, which provide symmetric download & upload links with speeds ranging from 2 Mbit/s to 10 Gbit/s, in select cities.{{cite web|url=http://business.comcast.com/ethernet/products/dedicated-internet|title=Ethernet Dedicated Internet - Comcast Business}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Comcast}}
{{Internet service providers of the United States}}
{{CATV USA}}
{{United States wireless communications service providers}}
Category:Telecommunications companies of the United States
Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2006