Comcast is bringing high-speed internet to under-served, rural communities in New Mexico. Most recently, it completed a multimillion-dollar expansion to bring broadband and the entire suite of Xfinity services to more than 9,100 homes and businesses in Las Vegas, N.M. Comcast completed this expansion just months after finishing a network upgrade in Gallup, N.M. that brought gig (gigabits per second) speeds to that community.
“Technology is a powerful driver of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth, and we recognize our company plays an important role in connecting New Mexicans to all the opportunities broadband offers,” Comcast Area Vice President Chris Dunkeson said in announcing the broadband extension to rural homes and businesses in Las Vegas. “Completing this expansion in Las Vegas is another example of our investment in New Mexico and our commitment to bringing more opportunities to communities around the state.”
Comcast says Las Vegas and Gallup residents and businesses will have access to reliable, fast and secure broadband services. In the last three years, Comcast has invested $149.4 million in technology and infrastructure across the state in pursuit of that goal.
“This investment in Las Vegas will bring improved broadband services to thousands of homes and businesses — expanding educational access and driving economic development opportunities within the community,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “Together with industry leaders like Comcast, New Mexico will continue to close the digital divide and address the needs of New Mexicans in communities large and small across the state.”
Connecting consumers and businesses
"The City of Las Vegas joins Comcast in celebrating the completion of this considerable investment in our community,” said Las Vegas Mayor Louie Trujillo. “An investment of this magnitude will support workforce development, virtual education, overall quality of life and greater access to high-speed internet for our residents. It improves our internet infrastructure in a way that may be attractive to businesses interested in locating or expanding their operations here."
Residential consumers in Las Vegas will have access to all Xfinity internet service offerings with speeds faster than 1 gig, as well as the Xfinity X1 video platform, Xfinity Home, Comcast’s professionally installed home security solution and Xfinity Mobile. Xfinity internet customers receive WiFi coverage, control of connected devices with xFi in the Xfinity app, xFi Advanced Security for cyber security protection at the gateway level, a free Xfinity Flex 4K streaming device, Peacock Premium and thousands of hours of free content.
The expansion into Las Vegas provides low-income families and individuals across the area with access to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program. Since 2011, Internet Essentials has connected 296,000 low-income New Mexicans to internet at home, many for the first time. The program provides 50 Mbps internet service for $9.95 a month and the option to purchase a new Dell laptop for $150.
Also, businesses will have access to the full suite of Comcast Business services including internet speeds up to one Gbps, business TV, phone, SmartOfficeTM technologies and dedicated business support. Comcast previously provided video-only services in Las Vegas.
“Having the services provided will be an incredible boost to our economy,” said Philip Martinez, president of the Las Vegas San Miguel Chamber of Commerce. “Additional broadband options, including gig internet speeds, are critical for Las Vegas’ economic development goals. We know relocating and expanding businesses need cutting-edge speeds.”
Business leaders in Gallup can expect a similar impact from Comcast’s upgrade, in which the company introduced additional internet speed tiers for homes and small businesses, with speeds up to 1.2 Gbps (1,200 Mbps).
“Fast and reliable broadband is a key component of a vibrant economy,” said Bill Lee, CEO of the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce. “As Gallup businesses continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, it’s good to see Comcast’s investment in our community to help ensure that new and existing businesses will have the bandwidth needed to succeed in the digital economy. With Internet speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to 1.2 Gig, Gallup can continue to recruit more industry sectors into our community and help existing businesses grow.”
Deploying broadband in rural areas
Comcast has made major investments to bring high-speed broadband service to rural communities as it attempts to bridge the “deployment gap,” which the company says mostly impacts rural areas where longer distances, challenging terrain and fewer customers per mile often make it cost-prohibitive for the private sector alone to build wired networks. While nearly 96% of Americans overall have access to fixed broadband service, roughly 17 million Americans — and 20% of rural Americans — still don’t have fixed broadband available in their neighborhoods, Comcast notes.
Since 2017, Comcast has deployed networks capable of gigabit speeds in previously unserved communities in 37 states and devoted more than $15 billion to strengthening and expanding its network – including building more than 33,000 new route miles of fiber. Every 2.5 years, the company says it adds as much capacity to the network as it added in all the previous years combined.
In New Mexico, Comcast has increased its fastest internet speeds over WiFi across the state, raising it from 1.0 to up to 1.2 Gbps. Customers now have advanced WiFi technology that can deliver the new faster speeds to support the ever-increasing number of connected devices in their homes.
“We recognize Comcast plays an important role in helping our customers stay connected, so we are continuously advancing our internet product with new innovation,” said Dunkeson. “Our state-of-the-art gateways with WiFi 6 technology, wall-to-wall WiFi coverage, personalized tools and controls and advanced cybersecurity are all helping to make our customers’ connectivity experience better than it has ever been.”
Learn more about Comcast’s network and their investments in building capacity not just to meet customers’ current needs, but to stay well ahead of future demand.
