US cable operator Cox Communications was left poised to join the ranks of MVNOs after taking the wraps off its sign-up site yesterday (19 July) ahead of pilot launch markets later this year.

A representative for Cox Communications told Mobile World Live the cable operator plans to roll out pilots in Hampton Roads, Virginia; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Omaha, Nebraska.

Cox Communications will ramp an advertising campaign for its mobile service at the start of August.

As for which mobile operator Cox Communications is working with, the representative said “contractual obligations limit the extent we can discuss our MNO partner”.

“What we can say is that our customers will have access to reliable 4G LTE and 5G coverage.”

Cox Mobile’s site stated speed restrictions apply after 5GB of usage per line and unused data does not rollover.

Where 5G is available, mobile tariffs include a Pay as you Gig option whereby customers pay for the data they need instead of a one-size-fits-all plan.

Post-paid Cox Internet is required for the tariff and data usage is billed per line in 1GB units at $15 each.

Troubled history
Cox Communications was poised to launch a mobile service in 2021 but became embroiled in a lawsuit with T-Mobile US about network access.

It is likely Cox Communications discussed an MVNO agreement with Sprint in 2017 as part of an effort to resolve a patent dispute.

The cable operator wanted to switch to Verizon after it started planning its mobile service launch, but instead ended up being sued by T-Mobile which acquired Sprint.

A US court ruling earlier this year opened the door for Cox Communications to pursue an MVNO agreement with Verizon, the operator cable companies Comcast and Charter Communications are using for their wireless services.

Cox Communications built its own 3G CDMA wireless network in 2010 using 700MHz spectrum bought in 2008 for $30 million, but never turned the network on.

Huawei provided the RAN equipment.

The cable operator offered a mobile service through an agreement with Sprint before shutting down the service in 2012.