Comcast Business to Expand Multi-Gigabit Ethernet in East Bay with $2 Million Fiber Extension

LIVERMORE, Calif., April 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast Business today announced a significant expansion of its multi-gigabit Ethernet service to three business parks in the Northern California towns of Pleasanton, Hayward and Fremont. The high-speed fiber-based network build outs together total close to $2 million in investment by Comcast in the East Bay, making available reliable Internet speeds to the more than 1,500 businesses in the community by offering reliable Internet speeds up to 20 times faster than traditional 1.5 Mbps DSL or T-1 service.

Together, the three parks serve a variety of industries, ranging from manufacturing to biotech to education to consumer products and services – businesses with ever-increasing data needs.

Companies such as Ceva Logistics and Impax Laboratories are among the more than 150 businesses currently leasing space at the collection of Business Parks along Huntwood Avenue in Hayward. Fremont's Bayside Business Park boasts of over 1 million square feet and serves as home to more than 400 companies, such as BASF Corporation, Mentor Graphics, Volterra Semiconductor Corporation.  Many of the buildings in the Business Park are owned and operated by ProLogis. Pleasanton Valley Business Park, which spans 60 acres and boasts more than 300 tenants, was built as a manufacturing park 40 years ago, but now serves tenants such as Allied Ventures, Mazda Motor of America, Nichotech and Quest Consulting, among many others.

"Today's business environment requires high speed internet as well as voice and video," said Stephen Schorr, Senior Property Manager at ProLogis. "Our tenants are extremely excited that we have partnered with Comcast Business to bring them what they need. It's a win – win – win for all."

As the price of commercial real estate in San Francisco and Silicon Valley continues to skyrocket, more businesses requiring high volumes of data and sophisticated technology services are relocating to the East Bay. For over 40 years in Hayward, the industrial area has attracted warehouse and distribution facilities due to easy access and central location in the East Bay. Today, the same qualities are attracting high tech and other firms to Hayward.  According to Hayward's General Plan, new fiber optics solutions are critical to bringing this "new economy" to Hayward.

A recent real estate study by Cassidy Turley, a leading commercial real estate services provider, reported that commercial real estate asking prices in the San Francisco market have jumped 80 percent over the last four years and continue to grow. It has been estimated that office tenants can save 40 percent by relocating from San Francisco to the East Bay and 18 percent by relocating from the South Bay, according to a report by the East Bay Economic Development Alliance and Beacon Economics.

"Recognizing the important role the East Bay plays in the Bay Area economy, a role that will grow exponentially in the coming years, we have made the conscious decision to invest in these corridors," said Ted Girdner, regional vice president of Comcast Business. "By running our sophisticated network through these key growth areas, we ensure property managers can offer hundreds of tenants the diverse, high-capacity networks they need in order to thrive."

Notably, Southern Alameda County, home to Hayward and Fremont, is considered an international hub for manufacturing and a R&D growth area for software, hardware, telecommunications, semiconductors and biotechnology. These data-intensive, complex industries demand highly sophisticated communications services in order to complete day-to-day operations. With the ability to offer Internet speeds of 10 Gbps, these business parks can meet the high standards these companies require, with room to expand as broadband needs continue to grow in the future.

"When exploring new office locations, high-capacity network connectivity is the top consideration for potential tenants," said Kim Huggett, president and CEO of the Hayward Chamber of Commerce. "Acquiring a complex network to meet these companies' demands requires a significant investment that not all property managers are in a position to make. We are proud to have Comcast as a chamber member and a partner in this project because we would not have been able to undertake this project on our own. These business parks are now well positioned to play a key role in supporting the growth of the East Bay."

Businesses in the three parks will have access to Comcast's comprehensive portfolio of Ethernet options, including Ethernet Dedicated Internet, Ethernet Private Line, Ethernet Virtual Private Line and Ethernet Network Services that provide Internet access, point-to-point, and point-to-multipoint connectivity at bandwidth that scales up to 10 Gbps. Companies will also be able to deploy Comcast Business VoiceEdge™, a cloud-based voice and unified communications solution designed to help customers run a faster, more efficient business.

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

For more information, call 866-429-3085.

Follow us on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.

About Comcast Cable
Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to businesses and residential customers. 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.

SOURCE Comcast Business

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