BCI Gets Busy With Cox's 3G Buildout

Cox Communications Inc. has tapped BCI Communications Inc. (OTC: BERL) to assist with the buildout of the MSO's 3G wireless networks.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but BCI, the first announced vendor for Cox's ambitious wireless buildout, is on board to bring its specialty to the table -- cell site acquisition, design, and construction. Headquartered in Elmwood Park, N.J., BCI launched a Cable Services Group just last year. (See Cox Picks BCI for 3G Help .)

While many of its MSO peers focus their wireless plans on WiMax and a partnership with Clearwire LLC (Nasdaq: CLWR), Cox is striking out on its own with a plan centered on 3G and an eventual move to 4G using Long-Term Evolution (LTE). The Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) and 700 MHz spectrum Cox won at auction will factor heavily into the overall plan. (See SpectrumCo Gets Licenses and Cox Waxes Wireless , and Cable Plays Clearwire Card.)

Although Cox will build out part of the 3G network on its own, it also intends to rely on the Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) network in some cases. (See Cox Preps Cellular Network, Eyes LTE and Cox Wireless: Soup to Nuts .)

Cox is still mum on when and where its wireless services will debut, but an MSO spokesman says the operator expects to announce some additional vendor selections in the coming months.

In the meantime, Cox has been busy building out its internal wireless organization, recently appointing Scott Knaub to the post of executive director of wireless business operations. Before that, Cox hired Dane Dickie to executive director of wireless product development; and Raj Beri to VP of wireless product operations. (See Cox Adds Wireless Pair and Cox Hires Wireless Ops Guru.)

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Cable Digital News