CHICAGO -- Comcast today announced plans to invest nearly $100 million in network expansion projects across its Greater Chicago Region over the next three years, including a major project that will add fiber optic and coaxial cable across a wide section of downtown Chicago spanning the Central, East, North and West Loop and River North and River West.

The project marks the largest single concentrated fiber expansion Comcast has ever undertaken in the Chicago region, and will bring the company’s network even closer to thousands of businesses and residences, including the numerous new office and residential buildings currently underway or proposed for development in the next few years. The network expansion will add capacity, support advanced services and give the company the ability to bring new customers online more quickly.

“Chicago is the largest metropolitan area Comcast serves. We live, work and provide service here, so these projects are more than just good business. They’re an investment in the region’s economic future – a future we all share,” said John Crowley, Comcast’s GCR senior vice president. “I’m proud of the role Comcast plays in Chicago’s and the region’s economic quality of life.”

The goal of the downtown and other expansions is to provide additional technology that will help local businesses – including a growing list of tech firms – continue to innovate and compete, while bringing state-of-the-art Internet, video, voice and home security and automation services to even more residences.

“Traditional brick and mortar businesses have dominated the Chicago area’s economy. But we’re at a crossroads, and the technology sector is playing a greater and greater role in the region’s economy,” said Jeff Malehorn, president and CEO, World Business Chicago. “Projects like these downtown, city neighborhood, suburban and other fiber expansions will play a role in advancing the Chicago area’s economy.”

Comcast Business