Comcast Business
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , United States |
Key people | Bill Stemper (President) |
| Products | Internet, telephone, Ethernet services for business clients |
| Parent | Comcast |
Comcast Business operates as a Comcast division dedicated to the promotion, sales, and provision of internet, telephone, and Ethernet services tailored specifically for business clients, differentiating itself from the consumer-focused Xfinity brand. In 2012, this segment experienced a remarkable 34% increase in revenue, the highest growth rate among Comcast’s offerings, reaching $2.4 billion. The subsequent year saw a further 26% rise, pushing revenue to $3.2 billion. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Comcast Business functions as a vital component of Comcast’s organizational framework, delivering telecommunications solutions to a wide-ranging business clientele. The division is led by Bill Stemper, who spearheads strategic direction and expansion efforts. Additionally, the acquisition of Blueface has extended Comcast Business’s international reach and strengthened its position in the competitive business communications market.
Comcast Commercial Online
On December 3, 1997, Comcast’s affiliate Comcast Commercial Online Communications Inc. introduced Comcast Commercial Internet Service, offering cable modem-based internet access to businesses through the @Home Network. By January 24, 2000, Comcast Commercial Online had formed a partnership with click2send.com to broaden its service offerings for small enterprises. Following the collapse of the @Home Network amid the 2000 dot-com crash, Comcast migrated its customers onto its proprietary network infrastructure, thereby gaining greater control over its business internet services.
Comcast Telecommunications
In early 1998, Comcast acquired GlobalCom Telecommunications, Inc., which was subsequently renamed Comcast Telecommunications, Inc. By that year’s end, the company had introduced various telephony services for businesses and collaborated closely with Comcast Commercial to promote internet solutions, enhancing its telecommunications service portfolio.
Comcast Business Communications
After the dot-com bubble burst, Comcast merged three smaller units into Comcast Business Communications LLC (CBC), launching an upgraded service titled Comcast Commercial Internet Service 2.0. Headquartered in Moorestown, New Jersey, CBC received $6.5 million in funding through New Jersey’s Business Employment Incentive program in 2000 to support expansion efforts. In 2001, CBC extended operations to Baltimore and announced plans for a $250 million investment aimed at entering eight new markets with advanced fiber-optic network capabilities targeting suburban businesses. Bill M. Keane was appointed president of CBC in March 2001 to oversee this growth strategy; he left the position in December 2002 to join Cavalier Telephone.
Products and services
On August 7, 2006, Bill Stemper was appointed president of Comcast Business Services, tasked with managing business product lines and driving expansion into small business sectors. By 2010, Comcast capitalized on substantial fiber infrastructure investments to cater to medium-sized companies employing between 20 and 250 staff members. In 2011, the division introduced metro Ethernet solutions designed for large enterprises alongside new business telephone services and expanded metro Ethernet availability across 25 markets. This growth trajectory continued through 2013 when Comcast Business emerged as the fastest-growing segment within Comcast, with revenues climbing from $265 million in 2006 to $3.24 billion—a year-over-year increase of 26.4%—positioning it as the top cable provider serving business customers by revenue.
Initially focusing on small enterprises such as florists and bakeries, Comcast Business broadened its customer base to include medium-sized organizations like medical clinics and hotels, as well as prominent institutions including the Boston Ballet and major sports venues hosting teams like the Boston Celtics, Red Sox, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Oakland A's, and Detroit Tigers. In 2014, it earned recognition as the fastest-growing company based on carrier Ethernet service deployments.
Bill Stemper was honored with the National Cable & Telecommunications Association Vanguard Award for operations and management excellence in 2013. That same year marked Comcast Business as the first carrier Ethernet provider certified CE 2.0 compliant by the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF), garnering multiple MEF accolades such as Service Provider of the Year and Best Carrier Ethernet Business Application. By mid-2014, rapid expansion propelled Comcast Business to sixth place among U.S. Ethernet providers.
At the MEF Global Ethernet Networking conference in 2014, Comcast Business secured four "Ethernet Excellence Awards," with Stemper recognized as Ethernet Industry Person of the Year. The company also received honors for outstanding applications within government and healthcare sectors and for best North American service.
In 2020, Comcast expanded its portfolio by acquiring Blueface, an Irish telecom company founded in 2004 by Feargal Brady and Aaron Clauson. This strategic acquisition enhanced Comcast Business’s offerings with sophisticated audio and video communication technologies designed to improve connectivity across multiple devices and locations worldwide, reinforcing its leadership in global business communications solutions.
High-speed Internet
Comcast’s business Internet packages closely resemble those available to residential users but are distinguished by the elimination of monthly data limits, making them more attractive to commercial clients. In addition to its standard DOCSIS offerings, Comcast delivers SD-WAN solutions via Comcast Business ActiveCore, along with Carrier Ethernet services that provide symmetrical bandwidth ranging from 2 Mbit/s up to 10 Gbit/s in certain regions, catering to the connectivity needs of demanding enterprise environments.