Time Warner Cable's first launch of its 4G wireless network is set for Dec. 1 in the North Carolina communities of Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh.
Time Warner Cable had previously said it would have the 4G service launched in four markets by the end of the year, which in addition to the North Carolina market includes Dallas. A spokesman for Time Warner Cable said Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii, will launch early next year.
Time Warner Cable also announced that it plans to launch additional mobile services to customers in the future, such as the ability to program a DVR from a mobile device and the ability to take video content on the go.
The first product to launch in North Carolina is Road Runner Mobile, which features Internet access on the go for $34.95 per month for Time Warner Cable triple-play customers with Price Lock Guarantee.
Customers using the Time Warner Cable 4G WiMAX service, which is offered via partner Clearwire's network, can expect Internet speeds up to 6 Mbps.
"With Time Warner Cable's 4G Mobile Network, we now offer the fastest mobile service available and extend our reach outside the home," said Carol Hevey, executive vice president of the Carolina Region for Time Warner Cable. "Giving our customers the convenience of mobility and the speed of 4G, Road Runner Mobile lets customers take their favorite Internet service wherever they go. This is an important part of our strategy to give our customers any content, on any device, anytime, anywhere."
Time Warner Cable is offering a choice of mobile data plans for its 4G service:
- Road Runner Mobile 4G National Elite gives customers unlimited access to both Time Warner Cable's 4G Mobile Network and to Sprint's national 3G network. The cost is $79.95 per month for Road Runner Standard or Turbo customers, and there are additional discounts for double- and triple-play customers.
- Road Runner Mobile 4G Elite gives customers unlimited access to the Time Warner Cable 4G Mobile Network. The cost is $49.95 per month for Road Runner Standard or Turbo customers, with additional discounts for double- and triple-play customers.
- Road Runner Mobile 4G Choice gives light users 2 GB of service on the Time Warner Cable 4G network each month. The cost is $39.95 per month for customers that subscribe to one other service from Time Warner Cable.
Time Warner Cable said customers who subscribe to a bundle of services have access to preferred pricing on the Elite levels of service.
Last year, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Sprint Nextel, Intel and Google invested $3.2 billion in Clearwire.
To date, Clearwire has launched its 4G WiMAX service in 10 markets, while Comcast has its brand of the service in three markets.