Comcast Invests in Wi-Fi

By Mark Evans
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

If you’re looking to get a sense of what’s happening in the Wi-Fi market, should take a close look at BelAir Networks Inc. The Ottawa-based company, which makes equipment to build hotspots, raised $20-million of venture capital this week, including a strategic investment from Comcast’s venture arm. So what’s Comcast thinking? Is this an offensive or defensive move? Does Comcast plan to move into the Wi-Fi market? These are all intriguing questions given Comcast was upset about the city of Philadelphia’s plans to build a municipal Wi-Fi network, which was awarded to Earthlink. Comcast was so troubled by Philadelphia’s plans, they lobbied the state legislature to stop them. With an investment in Belair, it could be that Comcast plans to get more aggressive with its Wi-Fi strategy as a way to protect its high-speed Internet access business.

We Say: The Wi-Fi market looks to be heading into new and interesting territory as carriers and cablecos get serious about the technology/service. It has to be troubling to high-speed Internet service providers that “free” service is being rolled out by more municipalities. You wonder how much of a factor Google’s interested in wiring San Francisco - and presumably other cities - had in Comcast’s investment plans.

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