By Anjali Athavaley
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Comcast Corp <CMCSA.O> on Thursday unveiled a wireless service with an unlimited data plan, making it the first major U.S. cable provider to enter the highly competitive wireless market.
Unlimited data, talk and text will be available by mid-year for $65 per line for up to five lines, or $45 per line for customers with Comcast’s top X1 packages, which bundle TV, internet and phone services, the company said.
U.S. wireless carriers Verizon Communications Inc <VZ.N>, AT&T Inc <T.N>, T-Mobile US Inc <TMUS.O> and Sprint Corp <S.N> have recently offered unlimited monthly plans ranging from $50 to $90 for a single line.
The details released on Thursday removed some uncertainty in the market on how Comcast would price and roll out its service, dubbed Xfinity Mobile. Comcast shares closed 2.1 percent higher at $38.13.
Comcast is moving into wireless as cable companies seek to add more services to reduce customer churn, or attrition, as younger viewers shun high-priced subscriptions in favor of cheaper online options.
