• Spectrum products, pricing and packaging became available to more than 11 million homes and businesses in former Cox markets across 45 states on 16 September
  • Charter will move Cox's remaining offshore sales and service functions to the US over the 18 months following the merger

The fact

Charter Communications extended Spectrum products, pricing and packaging to more than 11 million homes and businesses in former Cox markets on 16 September, less than a month after completing its acquisition of Cox Communications on 20 August. The rollout covers markets including Phoenix, San Diego, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Norfolk and Providence and takes Spectrum's total reach above 70 million homes and businesses across 45 states.

More than five million former Cox residential and business customers are now part of Spectrum's footprint. Customers can switch to Spectrum offers, including its $1,000 savings guarantee, while Charter says existing plans can remain unchanged unless customers choose otherwise. Spectrum branding has also appeared on stores, vehicles and technician uniforms.

Charter says it will apply its sales and service model across Cox markets and return remaining offshore Cox sales and customer-service functions to the US during the 18 months following the merger.

The assessment

The customer-facing change has happened much faster than the wider integration. Charter can introduce Spectrum branding, packages and pricing on a fixed date, but bringing two large operating businesses onto common sales, support and internal processes takes longer.

The 18-month workforce timetable gives one indication of that work. Charter still has to move customer-service functions, align operating processes and manage former Cox customers through the transition without disrupting existing services. The company has not published a comparable timetable for major changes to the underlying Cox access network, and the commercial launch should not be treated as evidence that the physical networks have already been technically integrated.

For BTW readers, the important separation is between a customer-facing launch and operating integration. Spectrum offers are live across former Cox markets, but Charter still has months of organisational work ahead and has not set out a timetable for major physical network changes.

What to watch

Watch the transfer of Cox sales and customer-service functions to the US, along with changes to billing, account management and support systems in former Cox markets. Charter's future network-investment disclosures will show whether it plans substantial technical changes to the Cox footprint or continues operating much of the inherited infrastructure largely as built.