Comcast seeks to ease Wi-Fi use
Comcast launched Xfinity xFi nationwide on Monday to help customers install their Wi-Fi, control when children can use devices and troubleshoot problems without calling tech support.
“We’re trying to make it simple and easy for customers to solve their own problems and to manage and control their home network,” Patti Loyack, vice president of IP services for Comcast Cable, told the Chronicle. “We’re excited about the possibilities of what this platform can do in the future.”
Comcast customers, on average, connect 10 devices to their home Wi-Fi, and
that number is expected to surge in the next few years. Streaming video, checking social media, adjusting the temperature and even turning off lights can require WiFi, and a report by IHS Markit forecasts shipments of Wi-Fi-connected home appliances to grow to 221 million in 2020 from 37 million this year.
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts told analysts the company expects the use of broadband in the home to explode as more smart devices come online, creating a greater need for service such as xFi that will better manage in-home internet traffic. “That’s the bet we’re making,” he said. “I think it’s a fairly safe bet.”
Comcast isn’t alone in preparing for this increased connectivity. Other products, such as eero, Google Wifi and Starry Station, are likewise trying to improve the Wi-Fi experience.
The Xfinity xFi will be immediately available to about 10 million customers who are already renting one of Xfinity’s wireless gateways, which is a Wi-Fi router, cable modem and voice modem wrapped into one device. xFi will also work on an advanced gateway that Comcast will roll out later this year, starting in Salt Lake City. These gateways are able to deliver the faster gigabit speeds over Wi-Fi.
For new Comcast customers, the xFi experience begins when setting up their Wi-Fi. Instead of entering a host of information about their account and device, customers will simply scan a QR code on the bottom of that new device.
Then they will have the option of selecting a Wi-Fi name and password, so they aren’t stuck with a long garble of letters and numbers that are impossible to remember.
To boost connectivity throughout the entire house, Comcast will roll out wireless extenders later this year. These devices can be plugged into a normal wall outlet and will boost Wi-Fi strength in that room.
XFi also comes with parental controls that allow parents to turn off Wi-Fi to their children’s devices after bedtime and prevent children from visiting inappropriate websites or apps.
Customers can also troubleshoot their own technical issues through the Xfinity xFi mobile app, website or on the TV if customers have the X1 service. Comcast handles about 1.7 million calls a month relating to connectivity, username and password, and activation issues.