Comcast's Chicago Area Investments To Benefit Company's Business Services Customers Nationwide, Drive Economic Growth Locally

CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast, a global media and technology company, today announced initiatives designed to advance the service it provides to Business Class customers nationally and in the Chicago area, give more businesses access to high-speed data, cloud-based hosted voice, and other new services, and drive economic growth here. 

First, Comcast today announced the opening of its Executive Briefing Center in Naperville, IL.  The Executive Business Center, which gives Comcast the ability to demonstrate its suite of Business Class products and services, is part of a larger facility the company opened last year that also houses customer support services, including a Customer Monitoring Center, as well as service, sales and administrative functions.  Currently, the facility has about 230 employees and plans are underway to hire an additional 170 in 2013 for a total of 400.  In addition, all contractors used to develop and build the space – ranging from the architect to designers – were locally based.

"The Executive Business Center is part of a significant investment Comcast is making nationally and in the Chicago area in our Business Class products and services," said Jay Dirkmaat, Greater Chicago Region vice president of Comcast Business Services.  "Comcast Business Class provides businesses some of the fastest Internet service available, Ethernet, and a full portfolio of video and voice offerings.  Creating this facility demonstrates our commitment to providing best-in-class support for our customers and reflects the strong growth we've experienced in Business Services."

Comcast to expand fiber network in key Chicago area business corridors

Today, Comcast also announced an expansion of its fiber network in three key Chicago area business hubs, the Chicago Loop – including the Willis Tower and other iconic buildings – the I-90 corridor from Rosemont/O'Hare International Airport to Schaumburg, and the I-88 corridor in Chicago's western suburbs, from Oak Brook to Aurora.  Overall, this proactive infrastructure investment will give an additional 1,600 businesses access to Comcast Business Class Ethernet services, as well as a host of voice, video and value-added cloud services.  This investment is in response to strong demand for Comcast's Business Class offerings and is in line with broader community efforts to expand the region's telecommunications and information technology infrastructure.

"Proactive investments in our technology infrastructure will help Illinois businesses compete in today's economy and in the future, as well as create good jobs and attract new companies that require access to high-speed, high-capacity data networks," said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. 

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin added, "I am pleased that Comcast has chosen to locate its new facility in DuPage County. Through its investment in a fiber network, our local businesses will have access to state-of-the-art technologies that will help them succeed. "

"With an educated workforce, convenient location, and array of services, Naperville is a great place to do business," said Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel.  "We are proud that Comcast chose Naperville as the location for its Executive Briefing Center, and we welcome its 400 employees."

About Comcast Business Services

Comcast Business Services, a unit of Comcast Cable, provides advanced communication solutions to help organizations of all sizes meet their business objectives.  Through a modern, advanced network that is backed by 24/7 technical support, Comcast delivers Business Class Internet, TV and Voice services for cost-effective, simplified communications management.

Launched in 2011, the Comcast Business Class Ethernet suite offers high-performance point-to-point and multi-point Metro Ethernet services with the capacity to deliver cloud computing, software-as-a-service, business continuity/disaster recovery and other bandwidth-intensive applications. Comcast Metro Ethernet services are significantly faster than standard T1 lines and other legacy technologies, providing scalable bandwidth from 1 Mbps up to 10 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) in more than 20 major US markets.  For more information, call 866-429-3085 or visit http://business.comcast.com/enterprise. 

About Comcast Cable

Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses.  Comcast has invested in technology to build an advanced network that delivers among the fastest broadband speeds, and brings customers personalized video, communications and home management offerings.  Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company.  Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

Comcast's Greater Chicago Region has nearly 7,000 employees locally and serves more than 2 million customers in central and northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan. 

SOURCE Comcast