Holly Fletcher

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Comcast is giving businesses in the Greater Nashville area the chance to get faster internet without having to have wires put in the ground.

Starting today, businesses in Comcast Business' service area in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties can get what's being called "Business Internet 1 Gig" or "Business Internet 500" through a modem — rather than going through a construction process.

The new service is launching in Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit as well. The selected cities are really significant markets for the company, said Alex Horwitz, vice president for public relations for Comcast. Atlanta and Nashville were the first two markets to get 2-gigabit and 1-gigabit residential service last year.

Just as with families, the proliferation of Wi-Fi-enabled devices means businesses need additional bandwidth. The new service, called DOCSIS 3.1 like the residential service, will give businesses, particularly small and medium-sized firms, more options for implementing cloud-based services, said Matt Davis, program director for research firm IDC.

Businesses consider internet accessibility when making a move so having the option of a modem may give flexibility to companies looking to move or expand.

"Businesses throughout the Nashville region — both small and large — depend on advanced telecommunications systems in order to adapt to shifting demands," says Chris Cotton, director of business growth initiatives at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. "These types of investments in our community allow all types of businesses to remain competitive in our economic landscape."

Comcast has invested about $2.3 billion in projects across Tennessee in the past 20 years, and Nashville continues to be a strong market for the company. The new services for businesses will continue to be launched in other markets over the next two years.

“We are thrilled to bring two new tiers of high-speed internet service to the Nashville business marketplace,” said Michelle Pluskota, vice president of business services for Comcast. “As Nashville continues to grow, it was essential that we make this investment to support the business community and prepare them for tomorrow’s requirements.”

Reach Holly Fletcher at hfletcher@tennessean.com or 615-259-8287 and on Twitter @hollyfletcher.