Cablevision Systems Corp., Comcast Corporation  and Time Warner Cable , announced an agreement to allow their high-speed Internet customers to roam freely across the companies' respective WiFi (News - Alert) networks at no additional charge, expanding the reach and value of cable WiFi in the New York metropolitan area.

 High-speed Internet customers served by any of the companies can enjoy fast and free wireless Internet access on a full range of WiFi-enabled devices, including the iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry (News - Alert) and laptop computer. There is an agreement between these cable providers that extend reach and value of distinct New York-area WiFi deployments by allowing customers free access to all three networks.

The companies have deployed  WiFi access points across the market, providing fast and free wireless Internet connections as a complement to broadband service as demand for mobile data continues to increase.  Each access point displays authentication options for all three WiFi services,  Optimum WiFi, Time Warner (News - Alert) Cable WiFi and Xfinity WiFi   allowing customers to use their own provider's sign-on process to get online.

'Cable providers interconnecting WiFi services so customers can roam freely across networks is an extremely meaningful and transformative development,' stated John Bickham, Cablevision's president of cable and communications.  

'This agreement , the first of its kind and, we believe, the first of many - combines the reach and the value of our respective WiFi deployments and delivers fast and free wireless Internet access that stretches across the market, at a time when consumer demand for mobile data is exploding,'Bickham added.

'Our customers are purchasing devices that have WiFi built into them and increasingly want wireless broadband access anytime, anywhere,' commented Cathy Avgiris, SVP and GM of Communications and Data Services at Comcast (News - Alert).  'With this partnership, we're excited to offer a great in-home and on-the-go Internet experience.  As a result, our Xfinity Internet and High-Speed 2go customers can now connect and enjoy their devices in more locations in the tri-state area.'

'This unique partnership is a win-win for our one million Road Runner customers in the NYC metro area, adding another dimension of value and convenience,' adds Howard Szarfarc, Executive Vice President of Time Warner Cable's NYC region.

'With WiFi connectivity forecast to be embedded in more than one billion mobile computer, phone and consumer electronics devices by 2012, this interconnection and free roaming agreement among the three leading cable operators in the New York metropolitan area represents a major breakthrough for cable broadband customers, extending wireless broadband connectivity from the home and business to thousands of WiFi access points throughout the region,' says Berge Ayvazian (News - Alert), telecom industry analyst from Heavy Reading.  'This historic agreement clearly makes the tri-state area the national leader in WiFi, an increasingly important distinction.'