Mobile Shift: Cox Sells Wireless Licenses To Verizon

Joining other major cable operators in looking to dramatically shift the wireless business in the U.S., Cox Communications has sold its advanced wireless services licenses to Verizon Wireless for $315 million.

Like a much bigger deal that Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks struck -- as part of their joint venture, SpectrumCo -- two weeks ago with Verizon, Cox and Verizon will become agents to sell each other's residential and commercial services and products. That collective deal was sold to Verizon for $3.6 billion.

Analysts believe this creates a big business shift in the mobile business. For major U.S cable operators, mobile has been a big piece of their growing triple-play business -- which includes video, broadband, and phone.

The Cox deals covers 28 million people. Cox will keep its existing slower-speed licenses, which will be phased out by March 2012.

Cox will enter into a similar joint venture created by Verizon Wireless, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House -- a business aimed at developing ways to better integrate wireline and wireless products and services.

"These agreements provide Cox customers with key enablers to mobility, such as access to Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network and iconic wireless devices," stated Pat Esser, president of Cox Communications, touting "the many benefits this will bring to customers."

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