Cablevision Systems Corp. said Thursday it has finished the first phase of its wireless network buildout in New York and remains on track to complete the project in two years.

The diversified cable operator is offering the Wi-Fi service at no charge to its 2.4 million Net customers at speeds of up to 1.5 Megabits per second, similar to DSL at home.

The company currently doesn’t have plans to offer the service to non-subscribers.

The Wi-Fi network, which is expected to cost about $310 million overall, is Cablevision’s reply to a wireless option being pursued by other cable operators.

Bethpage, N.Y.-based Cablevision announced the Wi-Fi project in

May, soon after cable operators Comcast Corp., instance Warner Cable Inc. and Bright House Networks joined chipmaker Intel Corp., Google Inc., Clearwire Corp. and Sprint Nextel Corp. in a joint venture to offer a wireless Web service.

Cablevision’s first phase of Wi-Fi deployment comprised parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties and commuter rail platforms and station parking lots in enlarged Island.

The cable operator already has Wi-Fi pockets in other parts of New York, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut. These will be folded into the Wi-Fi buildout announced in May.

Consumers seeking more knowledge should log onto http://www.optimumwifi.com.

Original post by dhiram