Comcast & San Mateo, Calif. finish business-grade network

Leveraging the city's existing underground utility ducts to carry the  fiber cable, the cable MSO completed a network build that will support data packages of 100/10 Mbps. It will also offer up to 10 Gbps to "businesses with the largest data needs."

This new network, which is known as "Digital Downtown," is the result of a joint collaboration between the cable MSO and San Mateo Chamber of Commerce designed to attract more businesses to the to the San Francisco Bay-area community. On Tuesday, the city and Comcast announced the completion of the "Digital Downtown" project at Astaria Restaurant in Downtown San Mateo.

"Digital Downtown" was created by The EDGE, a San Mateo Chamber-backed initiative, which it says focuses on "overcoming obstacles to economic growth in San Mateo." Although the EDGE approached a number Comcast was the only service provider that agreed to make a capital investment to build out network infrastructure to support high speed broadband services for area businesses.

San Mateo isn't the only city where it's working with local community leaders to build out a business-focused network. Last November, the MSO began offering its 100 Mbps service in Boston's Innovation District. The MSO charges $370 monthly for the 100 Mbps service.

At a time when Comcast is looking to grow its small- and medium-sized business customer base, striking deals with local communities to deliver high speed services is a sound way to attract businesses that are looking for local service provider partners that are willing to dedicate resources to their needs.