As Charter Communications readies to launch its own wireless service later this year, the operator on Monday named longtime industry executive Danny Bowman as head of its mobile business.
In the newly created role of chief mobile officer, Bowman will run the mobile business unit, forge partnerships with suppliers and bring Charter’s Spectrum Mobile-branded wireless offering to market, according to an announcement.
Bowman, a 25-year industry veteran, will report to Rich DiGeronimo, EVP of product and strategy at Charter, and be based out of the operator’s Stamford, Conn., headquarters.
“Danny possesses deep mobile expertise and will be an invaluable asset to Charter and its growing team of experienced professionals dedicated to successfully designing, developing, launching and growing Spectrum Mobile,” DiGeronimo said in a statement.
Prior to joining Charter, Bowman held executive positions at Sprint, Nextel and Cellular One and served as chief sales and operations officer for Samsung Telecommunications of America. Most recently, Bowman was chief revenue officer at streaming entertainment provider LeEco North America.
Charter previously announced an MVNO agreement to launch wireless service using Verizon’s spectrum, and, on a fourth quarter earnings call, CEO Tom Rutledge said the company is on track to debut the offering in the middle of 2018.
Rutledge acknowledged Charter hadn’t nailed down pricing for its mobile service at that point, but gave a positive nod to Comcast’s pricing model for its Xfinity Mobile service.
The company is also looking to utilize fixed wireless services to expand its broadband coverage. Charter said in late January that it was actively developing and testing 5G wireless connectivity in Orlando, Fla., Reno, Nev., Clarksville, Tenn., Columbus, Ohio, Bakersfield, Calif., and Grand Rapids, Mich.
Last year, Charter announced Samsung would be one of the collaborators helping support its wireless strategy by conducting 5G and 4G LTE wireless networks lab and field tests across the U.S.
In comments filed with the FCC earlier this year, Charter described an “inside-out” strategy when it comes to wireless.
“Charter is in the process of transitioning its wireless network from a nomadic WiFi network to one that supports full mobility by combining its existing WiFi assets with multiple 4G and 5G access technologies,” the operator wrote in response to an FCC notice for regulating 3.5 GHz spectrum. “In navigating this technological transition, Charter is concentrating on an ’Inside-Out‘ strategy, initially focusing on advanced wireless solutions inside the home and office, and eventually expanding outdoors.”
