Cable giant invests $22M in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch projects

Cable giant Comcast says it has completed a three-year, $22 million infrastructure upgrade project in Sarasota County. 

The project was designed, the company says in a statement, to bring its Xfinity 10G Network and advanced telecommunications services to industrial parks, retail sites and large residential developments across the county. The company commemorated the completion of the projects Jan. 20 at the grand opening of its new Sarasota Xfinity Store at 6511 S. Tamiami Trail, in the Gulf Gate area.   

Comcast’s infrastructure project sites in the county includes:

• University Parkway and Business Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch, on the border with Manatee County
• University Parkway and Deer Drive, also in Lakewood Ranch
• Interstate 75 and Fruitville Road  
• Residential area in North Port north of I-75. 

The network investments give access to Comcast Business’ and Xfinity’s full suite of services, including internet speeds up to 100 Gbps for commercial customers and speeds faster than a gigabit for residential customers, the release states. The new Xfinity Store, meanwhile, its first in the county the release adds, is a 3,600-square-foot retail space.   

“We’re more than a service provider. Comcast has been part of the fabric of Sarasota County for more than 50 years,” said Jeff Buzzelli, Comcast’s Florida Region Senior Vice President, in the release. “We not only invest in our technology, products, services and the customer experience, we invest in the communities we serve and in our people.” 

Since 2010, Comcast has made more than $9 million in cash and in-kind contributions to Sarasota nonprofits to support activities designed to help residents bridge the digital divide, the release adds. One of those investments was the establishment of a Wi-Fi-connected “lift zone” at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. Lift zones are safe spaces where children and adults can access the internet to do schoolwork and build digital skills. 

Comcast Corp. has 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. It offers broadband, wireless and video through its Xfinity, Comcast Business and Sky brands. It also operates Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports.