Charter CEO: We have a better platform to deploy 5G than cellular companies

Charter Communications Chairman and CEO Tom Rutledge explained why 5G isn’t an existential threat to cable’s connectivity business. “We have a better platform to deploy [5G] technology, I think, than the cellular industry does because we are fully distributed from a high-capacity wireline perspective,” said Rutledge. “If you think about what 5G is, it is small cells,” Rutledge added. “Small cells mean you needs lots of wired line connectivity to make the small cells work. We think we are actually in a better position to do that than traditional cellular companies. Yes, 5G can be used to compete against us. It is very capital intensive. It requires essentially a wireline network like Fios to support the small cells. If you look at [Verizon’s] forecast, they will build 30 million homes over a 10-year period. Ten years from now, there will be 140 million homes in the United States. They will have 20% of the homes. Our footprint would represent 8% of the homes.” In 10 years, Rutledge predicted, the cable company will have widely deployed 10 Gbps symmetrical internet service.