Comcast Moves on Verizon Deal with Creation of Mobile Division

Comcast is finally gearing up to move on its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) deal with Verizon. Apparently, Comcast has created a new Mobile Division which will operate under the leadership of former executive vice president of sales and marketing operations Greg Butz. Butz will report directly to Comcast Cable CEO Neil Smit. In addition to serving in Comcast’s sales and marketing department, Butz also formerly worked on business development for Comcast Cellular Communications in the early 1990’s. Comcast sold Comcast Cellular to SBC for $1.7 billion in 1999.

Apparently, the move follows Comcast’s activation of its MVNO rights with Verizon. Comcast secured those rights as part of the sale of its spectrum to Verizon in 2011. Comcast also has an active MVNO agreement with Sprint. Comcast said the changes are part of its “testing and learning” phase leading up to the actual launch of services. The representative declined to give a timeline for deployment of wireless services, saying only that the company is “really early in the process” and will “continue to evaluate the space.” “We think the wireless represents a strong business opportunity for Comcast, but we’re still in the testing and learning mode,” a representative said. Comcast’s representative said it was possible the company’s future wireless services would be bundled in with its other offerings, since many of its products are already bundled. Most Comcast customers subscribe to two or three products, the representative said.