To say it’s been a busy 12 months for Charter Communications would be an understatement. Not only did it close its $34.5 billion merger with Cox Communications, but it also pushed its convergence strategy even further—bundling broadband and mobile, backed by initiatives like its savings guarantee and the launch of Invincible WiFi, the industry’s first WiFi 7 router with battery and 5G cellular backup. Meanwhile, its Seamless Entertainment now packs $130 worth of streaming apps with live TV packages. Rich DiGeronimo, President of Product and Technology, answers a few questions about Charter’s convergence strategy and what’s next.
More operators are taking a converged approach to their product offerings. What sets Spectrum’s approach apart?
Convergence isn’t a buzzword for us—it’s an operating strategy built around how customers live and connect today. Customers don’t separate their internet experience from their wireless experience. They just want connectivity that works wherever they are.
Spectrum Internet and Spectrum Mobile work together over the Spectrum Fiber Broadband Network and are supported by approximately 45 million WiFi access points across the country, delivering a faster, more seamless experience than 5G. Our Seamless Connectivity bundle delivers the fastest and most reliable service and helps customers save with our $1,000 savings guarantee. For video, Spectrum’s Seamless Entertainment brings live TV and popular streaming apps together, all in one place. Spectrum TV Select plans include ad-supported streaming apps—providing more than $130 of monthly retail value at no extra cost. The Spectrum TV App is available on phones, tablets and the most popular connected devices. It is one of the best places to watch live sports in 4K or many games at once with Multiview. We bring together internet, mobile and video in a way that makes the experience simpler, more reliable and more valuable for customers.
T-Mobile has downplayed convergence as an effective strategy. Why do you feel it is the way forward?
Every operator has its own strategy, but for us, convergence is where consumer behavior is already headed. Customers increasingly expect one provider to deliver a connected experience inside and outside of the home. They want simplicity, value and reliability. We have the network and partnerships to deliver the industry-leading converged experience to every home and business that we serve.
With the Cox deal now closed, what opportunities do you see ahead?
With the combination of both companies, we now have a footprint across 45 states reaching nearly 70 million homes and businesses. That gives us more opportunities to extend our strategy across a larger base, and with scale you get more ability to innovate, more efficiency in how you operate, greater ability to partner with technology leaders and more ways to create better experiences for customers.
Operators are taking very different paths on network upgrades right now—some going all-in on fiber, others upgrading HFC with DOCSIS 4.0. How does Spectrum’s infrastructure strategy fit into the broader convergence story?
We’re building the best platform to support a converged customer relationship at scale. Our network evolution gives us a strong balance of performance, deployment efficiency and return on investment. We now deliver gigabit symmetrical speeds, and DOCSIS 4.0 allows us to continue to increase capacity and performance while leveraging the strength of the network we already have in place.
How is AI shaping the way Spectrum thinks about convergence?
We use AI and machine learning to help our products work together more seamlessly and to give our employees better tools to support customers. That can mean helping customers troubleshoot issues faster, optimizing network performance, providing faster support, fewer service disruptions and a more reliable, seamless experience—the foundation for successful convergence and a more intuitive entertainment and connectivity experience.
Fast Facts
- Spectrum Internet customers who bundle mobile or video service are 40% less likely to churn.
- Approximately 87% of Spectrum Mobile’s wireless traffic is now offloaded to WiFi, a number Charter expects to grow further.