Rogers Communications has announced a 10-year agreement with Comcast to bring Xfinity products and technology to Canadians across the country.
Rogers customers will be able to enjoy a new device powered by Entertainment OS via best gateways and devices, as well as an expanded suite of home security products and features developed by Comcast and Xfinity.
Comcast is a global media and technology company that offers connectivity and platform products to customers worldwide including in the U.S. under the Xfinity brand. As part of the agreement, the latest broadband, smart home, and connectivity products available to Xfinity customers will be coming to Canada through Rogers starting later this year.
Through this agreement, Rogers will offer its customers the latest gateways developed by Comcast, enabling them to experience 10G technologies like multi-gigabit speeds, ultra-low lag, and better reliability.
Rogers will also be the first internet provider in Canada to offer a product designed to maintain connectivity when a storm hits, trees are down, or a customer experiences a local outage, says the company. Dubbed Storm-Ready WiFi to Xfinity customers in the U.S., the product was recently lauded as one of the most innovative of the year by Fast Company.
The device is equipped with cellular backup and a rechargeable battery to keep customers up and running for hours. When the power goes out the customer’s network automatically transitions to cellular back-up so they can continue to use the internet. The device also doubles as a Wi-Fi extender to deliver a strong signal to those hard-to-reach corners of the home.
Building on the existing Self Protect service available to Rogers customers, Rogers will soon launch new home security hardware, including sensors, to complement the existing options of cameras and doorbells with the added benefit of on-demand emergency dispatch at the touch of button.
Commercial details will be announced as products and services are made available, starting later this year.
“This platform will make it easy and simple for Rogers customers to connect to what they love with a seamless experience, whether on the big screen in their home or their smartphone on the go,” says Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers Communications.
“Building on our nearly decade-long partnership with Rogers, we’re thrilled to deliver the next-generation of our entertainment and connectivity products, like Entertainment OS and the latest gateways, to millions of customers across Canada,” adds Dave Watson, CEO of Connectivity and Platforms, Comcast. “Now, with the addition of these new products and services, even more customers in North America will be able to take advantage of Comcast and Xfinity’s innovative technologies.”
The average Canadian subscribes to nearly twice as many streaming apps than five years ago and broadband data usage at Rogers has grown 200% in the same period, says the company. New research commissioned by Rogers shows that more than half of Canadians (55%) say the number of streaming apps is overwhelming, half say searching for this content is time consuming, and 45% admit they sometimes can’t find the show or sporting event they want to watch. The study also found accessing all streaming apps on one platform is the most appealing TV feature.