NEW YORK (AFX) - Cablevision Systems Corp. has increased the speed at which subscribers can connect to the Internet in an effort to protect its customer base.
The Bethpage, N.Y., cable provider is also exploring the possibility of linking its Internet phone service with a wireless carrier, according to one executive.
In a press release Wednesday, Cablevision said its Optimum Online customers will be able to download information off the Internet at 15 megabits a second, up from 10 Mbps. The upload speed also doubled to 2 Mbps. In addition, Cablevision unveiled a premium 30 Mbps offering called Optimum Online Boost.
In the battle for high-speed Internet customers, cable providers are taking a different tact than telephone companies. The Bells have slashed the prices of their digital subscriber line service -- AT&T Inc. has gone as low as $13 a month -- while cable companies have instead opted for increased speeds.
In an e-mailed statement Wednesday, Patricia Gottesman, who heads Cablevision's product management and marketing, said, 'We think there are enormous opportunities for our Optimum Voice product to converge with wireless services from all major providers.'
Cablevision was one of the few cable companies that opted not to join an industry consortium that set up a joint venture with Sprint Nextel Corp., the No. 3 wireless carrier by subscriber base, in November. Sprint is working with companies such as Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Inc.'s cable unit to create integrated services.
Cablevision did not comment on the timing of when it would begin working with the wireless carriers, or which carriers it would work with.
Cablevision shares fell 30 cents, or 1.4 percent, to close at $21.42 on the New York Stock Exchange.
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