Cablecos Leaving PIVOT Wireless Venture

Three of four cableco members of the PIVOT wireless group effort with Sprint confirmed Thursday that they’re moving customers off the mobile service, just months after it was announced the reach of the service would not be expanded beyond initial markets.

Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc. and Cox Communications Inc. said they are working to discontinue the effort. That leaves only Advance/Newhouse Communications Inc. in the mix.

PIVOT was formed in 2005 as a means to offer cable operator customers wireless services without the operators having to buy or build mobile networks as rivals AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications had already done.

“The product was cumbersome to sell and service,” said a spokesperson for PIVOT member Time Warner Cable Inc.  “We’re rolling customers to a more traditional Sprint product. Customers will receive letters informing them of the change in the next couple of weeks.”

The developments raise questions as to the long-term wireless plans of the cable operators that formed PIVOT. Some participated in the recent 700MHz wireless spectrum auction, while Comcast chose not to.

One of those winners, Cox said it will begin moving customers off PIVOT in about month, offering them a free month of service if they stay with Sprint, but not penalizing them if they choose another carrier.

“When you look at the spectrum we just won in the auction and our advanced wireless spectrum together, it’s strong evidence of our long-term interest in wireless,” said a Cox spokesperson, who did not elaborate.

Comcast is discontinuing PIVOT service, but did not give further details.

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