Spotlight On: Carolyne Hannan, Senior Vice President, New England Region, Comcast
September 2024 — Invest: sat down with Carolyne Hannan, senior vice president for the New England region of Comcast, to discuss the company’s efforts in connecting with the communities it serves, how it has and continues to expand access to the internet, and its success in getting underserved communities connected to the world around them through reliable access to internet, devices and education.
What were the significant achievements that Comcast accomplished over the past 12 months?
At Comcast, we pride ourselves on innovation, and we have many accomplishments each year. In the last year, three things really come to mind for me. The first is continuing to deliver faster speeds to our customers. This spring, we increased speeds for our Xfinity Internet customers as well as our Comcast Business customers at no additional cost.
The second achievement is our introduction of the NOW portfolio. This includes NOW Internet and NOW Mobile, which we launched in May. It’s a new brand of quality, low-cost internet, mobile and streaming products that consumers can purchase on a month-to-month basis. NOW Internet is prepaid and designed for a segment of customers who love these types of products.
The third achievement, which I am particularly excited about, is Xfinity StreamSaver. This is a streaming bundle that includes Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV Plus, all bundled together for just $15 a month. It’s available to both our existing and new customers.
Across service lines, where are you seeing the most demand in the New England region, and how is your team working to innovate to meet these customer needs?
Comcast continues to invest significantly in our network. In the last three years, Comcast has invested more than $900 million just in the state of Massachusetts to maintain and operate one of the largest fiber networks in the country. A great example of this is in Falmouth, where we recently turbocharged the network, delivering 2 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) download speeds to customers there, with 10 times faster upload speeds than before. These speed increases and our investment in the network are paving the way for Comcast to deliver symmetrical multigigabit speeds.
Internet consumption continues to grow at a rapid pace. The average household now has more than 20 devices connected to WiFi at any given time, including thermostats, laptops, cellphones, printers, iPads and watches. WiFi is truly the way people connect to the internet and the world. We pride ourselves on delivering the best WiFi experience with a network that is fast, reliable, resilient and secure.
Are there any specific regions or neighborhoods you’re considering for greater investment in terms of network expansion?
Network expansion is part of our current set of initiatives, and we have many projects across the New England Region, including in Massachusetts. The New England Region actually serves six states: New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and, of course, Massachusetts. We are undertaking expansion projects on our own and we are also participating in several state and federal funding opportunities to reach unserved or underserved areas. We are going through those bidding processes now and are proud of how we’re coming to the table to reach underserved and unserved areas in Massachusetts and across New England. For example, we submitted 91 applications in the second round of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Grant Program as administered by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI).
Xfinity Mobile is at the forefront of our strategy and how we go to market with consumers. We have both residential and Comcast Business Mobile products for our respective internet customers. Notably, we’ve surpassed more than 7 million mobile lines across the United States since we launched in 2017. We’re really proud of the value we provide to customers. Currently, customers can get a second line free when they buy one line, offering a great deal on the most reliable 5G network available. While other carriers are raising prices on unlimited plans, we are committed to providing great value with the best packaging and pricing for unlimited customers.
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How are you staying ahead of your competitors in such a fast-paced industry?
I’ve already spoken about our crucial investment in the network. We want to have the best network that delivers the best products and value to consumers. In the short term, we are looking forward to the return of tens of thousands of college students to their communities, notably in Boston, where we see the highest rate of apartment turnover at the beginning of September. This presents a great opportunity for us to connect with the student population and get their vital internet connections set up.
Our top priorities for the future include continuing to invest in our network to meet the growing demand for faster speeds and paving the way for multigigabit symmetrical speed offerings. This investment helps us stay ahead of consumer demand for fast, reliable and secure internet. We also aim to continue our growth with our NOW portfolio, offering the right products at the right price to meet every customer’s needs.
Can you share some ways you are engaging with the community to advance digital literacy and equity?
Advancing digital equity is deeply ingrained in Comcast’s DNA, and we do this through Project UP, a comprehensive initiative to create a future of unlimited possibilities for everyone. Project UP is a $1 billion commitment to reach tens of millions of people and includes many programs and community partnerships that help connect people to the internet, increase their digital skills and create economic mobility opportunities.
One example is Ethos, a Boston-based nonprofit, which received a $75,000 grant to support its digital aging program. This funding provides Boston senior citizens with connectivity, computer access and individualized skill-building opportunities. Another organization we work with is the Community Health Center of Cape Cod, to which we donated $50,000 to support a full-time digital navigator position. This person assists patients with electronic tools and telehealth options. And, we donated $25,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of West Springfield to support digital literacy at the club’s Comcast Technology Lab, where students learn coding, design and computer sciences. We are enormously proud of these initiatives and continue to focus on and invest in them.
How do you envision the next phase of growth and innovation at Comcast?
Comcast has outlined a variety of growth drivers across our Connectivity & Platforms portion of the company such as Comcast Business.
In terms of innovation, we recently announced how our Xfinity video service provided a differentiated experience for Olympics viewing in enhanced 4K. We have an amazing 4K offering, especially evident through our carriage of the Paris 2024 Olympics coverage.
What is your outlook for Comcast in the near term, and what are your top priorities for continued growth?
We’ll invest in our network that continues to get smarter, faster and more reliable. It delivers a next-generation broadband experience to millions of homes and businesses to support the increasing demands of our customers today and in the future.
I’ve been with Comcast for 20 years, and I believe we have a great future ahead. We’re innovative, creative and collaborative, and I’m proud to be a part of this company.
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