Josh Pichler

jpichler@enquirer.com

Cincinnati Bell announced on Wednesday that wireless customers will receive unlimited domestic voice, data and texting for no additional charge. The company will automatically update existing customers.

Cincinnati Bell announced earlier this year it is selling its wireless business to Verizon for $210 million. The deal is expected to close early this fall, but Cincinnati Bell will continue to provide service to its wireless customers through Feb. 28, 2015.

"This 'Unlimited Thank You' is our way of letting our customers know how much we value their loyalty and support," said Mike Vanderwoude, senior vice president and general manager of wireless markets for Cincinnati Bell.

Cincinnati Bell's wireless customers numbered 276,700 at the end of the second quarter. Cincinnati Bell is exiting the business in the face of stiff competition from national carriers. The company is instead focusing on growth segments like Fioptics, its suite of high-speed Internet, voice and entertainment services for businesses and consumers, and its business that services IT infrastructures for large and midcap companies.

The company announced on Monday it will make gigabit Internet service available to Fioptics for consumers starting Sept. 8. Business customers already have access to the service, which Cincinnati Bell says is 10 to 100 times faster than the broadband service Fioptics customers currently receive.

Cincinnati Bell will keep its eight stores in the region open after the sale of its wireless business. The stores are an important platform for the company to sell Fioptics.