Chad Bray

As more consumers “cut the cord” on traditional cable television, businesses selling those services are responding by offering a wider range of products, hoping to retain customers. Comcast and Charter Communications amplified that trend, announcing that they would team up to offer cellular telephone and data services in the United States, entering a ferociously competitive market.

The two companies had already said they would offer wireless services, and they most likely hope to use their combined scale to negotiate agreements with suppliers and take advantage of a network of Wi-Fi hot spots that the companies have built for customers in their service areas. “Both of our companies have regional wireless businesses using the same 4G LTE network, and by working together, our goal is to create even better experiences for our customers,” said Brian Roberts, the Comcast chairman and chief executive. Comcast is expected to soon begin offering its new Xfinity Mobile wireless service for existing broadband customers. The company also bought $1.7 billion in wireless spectrum at a Federal Communications Commission auction in April, to help ramp up its service. Charter has said it plans to offer wireless service in 2018.