Cox Communications said its 1-Gig “G1GABLAST” residential service has been launched in parts of four markets: Phoenix; Orange County, Calif.; Omaha, Neb.; and Las Vegas.

Cox added that it is also actively deploying broadband network infrastructure in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Oklahoma and Virginia to bring G1GABLAST  to customers in those states. The service will launch in those areas starting later this summer, the MSO said.

Using fiber-to-the-home technologies in a targeted fashion, Cox first launched the G1GABLAST in Phoenix last fall. 

Cox also expects to factor in DOCSIS 3.1, an emerging multi-gigabit platform for widely deployed HFC networks, as part its grander plan to make residential gigabit service available across Cox’s footprint by the end of 2016.

"We started in Phoenix last fall, but we have not stopped there. We are excited to have the choice of gigabit speeds available to more customers today, and we’re adding new building projects every month,” Cox president Pat Esser said, in a statement.

Last year, company doubled the speeds of its most popular Internet service packages, Cox High Speed Internet Preferred and Cox High Speed Internet Premier. The operator also plans to boost its “Ultimate” tier later this year.

On the wireless front, Cox has deployed quasi-public hotspots in parts of Virginia, Connecticut, Nebraska, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and California. Those hotspots are accessible to Cox subs as well as credentialed customers of the Cable WiFi roaming alliance, a group that also includes Comcast, Cablevision Systems, Bright House and Time Warner Cable. Together, the roaming group has deployed more than 300,000 metro WiFi hotspots. 

Following the initial deployment of its super-speedy “G1GABLAST’ wireline broadband service in Phoenix, Cox Communications is now giving some attention to wireless there with the initial launch of more than 500 WiFi hotspots.

The deployment initially covers parts of Phoenix’s City District 3. Cox plans to deploy more than 1,200 hotspots in other Phoenix-area communities by the end of the year, and has set a goal to deploy more than 2,500 in metro Phoenix by the end of 2015.

Cox has already deployed more than 2,500 WiFi hotspots in parts of Virginia, Connecticut, and Omaha, Neb. Cox intends to add Las Vegas to the list later this year.

Credentialed Cox high-speed Internet subs have free access to those hotspots, as well as the 300,000-plus hot spots that have been collectively deployed by its "Cable WiFi" roaming partners -- Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Cablevision Systems.

“In addition to the incredible speeds Cox offers in the home, our customers want access to reliable high speed Internet wherever they are,” said Susan Anable, VP of public affairs, Cox Southwest Region, in a statement. “Cox has invested more than $3 billion in Arizona communities through infrastructure upgrades since 1996. This investment has readied us to take the step of offering hotspots all over the Valley, so our customers can access the Internet not just within the walls of their home, but to the corners of their community.”