4 min read July 2023 — In an interview with Invest:, Dan Bonelli, Regional Senior VP of Comcast, discussed key milestones, such as multi-gig deployment and Xfinity Internet speed increases. He highlighted programs like Project Up promoting digital inclusion as well as Comcast’s technologies and how they are addressing service demand trends. Looking ahead, Comcast aims to meet customer needs, expand its network, and support small businesses in Philadelphia.
What were Comcast’s key milestones over the past year?
Every year brings significant achievements for Comcast, and here are a few highlights:
We recently completed the largest and fastest multi-gig deployment in the U.S., bringing multi-gig speeds to 10 million homes and businesses, including many in the Greater Philadelphia area.
We also doubled the speeds for our popular Xfinity Internet tiers twice in the past year.
Additionally, we introduced Now TV, a streaming-only entertainment option offering 60+ network and fast channels, along with Peacock Premium.
Our Xfinity Mobile service has received top ratings for customer satisfaction and value by the American Customer Satisfaction Index, and we surpassed 5 million customer lines nationwide in just five years.
Through PHLConnectED and our partnership with the City of Philadelphia, we helped provide no-cost Internet to more than 23,000 Pre-K-12 families in need.
Furthermore, we were thrilled to announce the return of Comcast RISE to Philadelphia, demonstrating our continued commitment to supporting local businesses.
Through Project UP, our year-round volunteerism program, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work in our communities, including donating 322,000 pounds of food to the Preston and Steve Show’s annual Camp Out for Hunger initiative, benefiting Philabundance.
We also received a number of awards like The Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia, which recognized Comcast as one of Philadelphia’s most community-minded employers for the third consecutive year.
How do Project Up and other programs contribute to promoting digital inclusion and accessibility?
Project UP is about helping to build a future of unlimited possibilities for our neighbors. And our number one community impact priority through Project UP is bridging the digital divide. One significant initiative is the expansion of our efforts to increase participation in the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). This program provides low-income households with a monthly credit of up to $30 that they can apply to their Internet or mobile service. We have partnered with local organizations and conducted numerous events throughout the year to raise awareness about Internet Essentials, the $9.95 Internet service we’ve offered to low-income residents for more than 10 years, and the ACP. Last year, in Philadelphia alone, we awarded more than $4.3 million to local nonprofits like the Latin American Community Center, Goodwill Industries, the Helms Academy and the Welcome Center to advance digital adoption and digital skills training. We have also provided free Wi-Fi in community spaces through our 140 live zones across the region.
What are some significant technologies implemented by Comcast and how do they impact the communication landscape?
The Xfinity 10G network is our next-generation broadband network that continues to get smarter, faster and more reliable. Our 10G Network delivers multi-gig speeds, the nation’s largest network of Wi-Fi hotspots and our gig-Wi-Fi gateway that can seamlessly connect hundreds of devices. Reliability is crucial as people consume more streaming, virtual reality, and engage in video conferencing. Last year, a billion devices connected to our network, which is 12 times more than in 2018. This trend shows no signs of slowing down, with platforms like YouTube carrying the NFL Sunday Ticket and Apple offering MLB baseball online only. Virtual reality is also gaining popularity, demanding robust network capabilities. To meet these demands, we have invested over $20 billion in our network between 2018 and 2022, constantly improving reliability, speed, and security. Our latest enhancements, reaching 50 million people, provide multi-gig speeds, faster uploads, improved reliability, and energy efficiency. Currently, we have expanded to 10 million customers across more than 40 markets, including the Greater Philadelphia area.
How does Comcast assess service demand across commercial, residential, and individual customers, and are there any observed trends or patterns?
We constantly assess consumer demand and strive to stay ahead of it in both residential and Comcast Business sectors. We are witnessing more customers utilizing our services, along with a variety of devices that require connectivity. Mobile consumption has also increased, relying on our Wi-Fi network. Therefore, our focus remains on expanding reliability and offering higher speeds to meet customer expectations.
We continue to expand and advance our intelligent and dependable network while extending our service offerings. Our ongoing investments in the network have resulted in speed increases twice this year across different tiers for our customers. Furthermore, we are committed to investing in our 10G network so that we can continue to enhance reliability and provide faster speeds. These investments are nationwide and benefiting the Greater Philadelphia region today.
What is Comcast’s outlook for the Philadelphia communication industry in the next five years and what emerging trends or areas of focus do you anticipate?
As we look ahead to our top priorities in the future, it is evident that the demand for our services is growing rapidly and shows no signs of slowing down. We remain committed to understanding and meeting our customer needs and expectations by providing the required speeds and network capabilities. Moreover, we will introduce new products and services that align with their evolving needs. For instance, we have introduced offerings such as NOW TV and Comcast Business Mobile, so that we’re catering to both residential and commercial customers. Additionally, we will continue expanding our network strategically, partnering with towns and local municipalities to ensure connectivity for underserved areas and enable customers to benefit from Internet essentials and ACP.
How does Comcast demonstrate its commitment to community engagement and support for small businesses in the region?
Comcast remains deeply committed to community engagement, as exemplified by our involvement with Comcast Rise in supporting small businesses throughout the region. This year, we are proud to award an additional hundred small businesses with comprehensive packages that include a $5,000 monetary grant, plus marketing and tech services and more. This brings the total number of recipients to an impressive 13,500 nationwide, including 200 Philadelphia small businesses that previously received $2 million in grant awards, as well as nearly 400 businesses that benefited from marketing or technology service packages. Our local network of employee resource groups also continues to make a significant impact within our organization and the community. A recent example of their remarkable work is the ceremonial retirement of over 200 American flags collected through our Veterans Network Vet Net’s flag program, which took place earlier this week. Our volunteers offer to replace tattered U.S. flags that they see with new ones at no charge and they collect and ceremoniously retire the damaged flags every year.
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