Comcast's Hot Spot Signal for Sprint

[Commentary] Wi-Fi's signal may be getting stronger. That is seemingly Comcast's dream -- and one that may be shared by Sprint.

As Comcast seeks regulatory approval to buy Time Warner Cable, the cable giant has been raising the idea of a wireless phone service using Wi-Fi hot spots for most of its voice and data traffic. Users would move onto a traditional wireless network only when Wi-Fi isn't available. Comcast has about a million hot spots deployed. But it says that without Time Warner Cable, it will be trickier to create a national competitor to existing wireless carriers. This may seem like pandering to regulators aiming for more competition in wireless. Skeptics say the same about Sprint Chairman Masayoshi Son's recent touting of the reverse scenario -- a wireless competitor to fixed-line broadband -- as he may be attempting to woo regulators ahead of a potential bid for T-Mobile US. But, as with Sprint's plans, there are reasons to think Comcast is for real.