Photo courtesy of Comcast

One thing Houston isn’t slowing down on is its love for live streaming. Whether catching the big game, binge-watching a new series, or diving into the latest gaming releases, Houstonians are using the internet more than ever. And with nearly 4 million more people expected to move to the area by 2040, networks have to be ready.

More devices, more streaming, more demand
“Internet usage has been skyrocketing year after year," sts Foti Kallergis, Comcast Texas spokesperson. "The average Xfinity household now has 36 WiFi-connected devices, from smart TVs and phones to tablets, speakers, and even smart fridges."

More than 70 percent of all internet traffic is entertainment, with sports, streaming apps, and games leading the charge — especially here in Houston, where fans never miss a Texans game or a Rockets highlight.

In fact, the past year set records for Comcast’s Xfinity network, with the five biggest days of internet consumption ever happening just in the last few months of 2024, driven by huge sports events and gaming downloads.

A network built for what’s next
As more people move in and more devices come online, Xfinity is constantly upgrading its network to keep up — and stay ahead. Whether you’re working on your laptop, FaceTiming on your iPad, or scrolling on your phone, at home or on the go, the goal is simple: fast, reliable, and seamless connection.

Over the last decade, Comcast has poured $80 billion into strengthening its network and infrastructure across the country. That includes 300,000 miles of fiber — enough to circle the globe 12 times — supporting everything from everyday streaming to powering FEMA and the Department of Defense. And here in the greater Houston area, that same network supports thousands of small businesses, too.

Speed, security, and smarts built in
“It’s not just about staying connected — it’s about staying connected smarter,” adds Kallergis. “Comcast’s network is constantly working behind the scenes to make your experience better. In fact, Comcast rolled out over 350,000 upgrades last year alone, including faster speeds at no extra cost.”

Comcast Xfinity speed testPhoto courtesy of Comcast

And every 20 minutes, it tests over 4,000 data points across tens of millions of devices to keep things optimized.

Kallergis adds that if there's extra bandwidth, Xfinity modems automatically adjust. If there's a network issue, AI-powered tools fix 60 percent of cases before users even know something’s wrong. And if a fiber line is cut, Xfinity technicians are alerted instantly and know exactly where to go and what to do.

Powerful tools for your home
Great internet also depends on what’s inside your home. That’s why Comcast is rolling out the new XB10 modem — the fastest and most powerful yet. It can handle up to 300 devices at once (because let’s be real, we’re all tech-heavy households now).

And when it comes to security, Xfinity’s network has your back. Every device that connects is automatically shielded from sketchy sites; it's like having a mini cybersecurity team 24/7.

Looking ahead
At the end of the day, Houston’s internet needs are only going to grow. And Comcast is ready.

Whether you’re streaming the playoffs, jumping on a work call, or video chatting with family across the country, Xfinity is here to keep you connected to the moments that matter most.

Photo courtesy of Comcast

Xfinity cranks up internet speeds in Southeast Texas at no extra cost

Power Your Digital Life

Here's some excellent news: Comcast has upgraded Xfinity Internet speeds for more than 20 million customers, including hundreds of thousands of Southeast Texas customers, for no additional cost.

Xfinity Internet tiers, and the NOW branded prepaid products, will now benefit from 50 to 100 percent faster upload speeds, helping customers upload large files in a flash when working from home or post videos to social media in seconds. Download speeds will also increase for most internet tiers.

Xfinity boosting speeds graphicGraphic courtesy of Comcast

Customers can view the details of their current internet plan by going to the Account, Your Plan section in the Xfinity app. While there, customers can also test their internet speed.

As the demand for connectivity continues to skyrocket in hyper-connected households, the new speed increases will provide even faster download and upload speeds to ensure customers can do more of what they love online — stream, game, chat, surf, and more — on all their devices, all at the same time.

“We want and need seamless connectivity for everything,” says Jose Espinel, Comcast Texas’ regional senior vice president. “Our faster download and upload speeds, combined with our world-class WiFi equipment, ultra-low-lag internet experience, and WiFi PowerBoost that delivers speeds up to a gig, are providing a converged connectivity experience that we believe is unmatched in the industry.”

With 94 percent of devices connecting to the internet via WiFi, fast speeds are only as good as the WiFi that connects them. At home, Xfinity’s WiFi gateways and extenders create a fast, reliable, and secure connection to every corner of the house. Outside of the home, Comcast’s Xfinity internet customers have access to the nation’s largest network of WiFi hotspots to connect on the go.

In addition to faster speeds, new and existing Xfinity Internet customers can now get a line of Unlimited on Xfinity Mobile included for a year when they subscribe to a 400 Mbps or faster plan.

And with WiFi PowerBoost, Xfinity Mobile and Comcast Business Mobile customers seamlessly receive WiFi speeds up to 1 Gbps no matter what internet speed tier they subscribe to, in and out of the home, on the nation’s largest and fastest WiFi network.

Fast download and upload speeds are an important feature of a comprehensive connectivity experience that delivers incredible benefits to consumers, including:

  • Reliability: Xfinity has greater than 99 percent reliability, and the Xfinity network utilizes artificial intelligence to keep customers connected by fixing issues before customers even know they happened.
  • Ultra-low-lag: Comcast recently introduced the first customers in the world to a pioneering new feature of Xfinity Internet that dramatically reduces latency when using interactive applications like gaming, videoconferencing, and virtual reality. Customers will have less delay and a smoother, more responsive end-to-end online experience.
  • Great WiFi in and out of the home: Next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver advanced WiFi capacity to power hundreds of devices in homes, and more than a billion devices each year across Comcast’s network. WiFi PowerBoost delivers Xfinity Mobile customers speeds up to 1 Gbps over WiFi at home or at millions of WiFi hotspots across the country.
  • Digital security: xFi Advanced Security, included free for customers who lease an Xfinity gateway, protects connected devices from malware and other threats at the gateway before they reach connected household devices. Since launching xFi Advanced Security, Xfinity has stopped more than 10 billion cyber security threats.

Customers can take advantage of the unlimited mobile line offer via their account on Xfinity.com, in the Xfinity app, or by calling 1-800-XFINITY.

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Houston brain health co. secures $6.5M for rare disease study

neuro funding

Houston-based Goldenrod Therapeutics, part of Fannin Partners' portfolio, has announced the initial close of a $6.5 million series seed preferred stock round.

The round was led by Ataxia Ventures and an affiliate of Fannin, according to a news release.

Goldenrod Therapeutics plans to use the funding to support manufacturing, formulation optimization, IND-enabling studies and a Phase I study of its drug to treat brain inflammation, known as 11h.

The study will consider how 11h, which blocks the enzyme PDE4, could treat Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a rare genetic disease that affects movement, speech and balance. To date, other PDE4 inhibitors have proven to regulate neuroinflammation and neuronal signaling, but have had adverse gastrointestinal side effects or have not reached enough of the central nervous system, according to Goldenrod.

The company says its 11h is expected to have "broad applicability" with limited emetric side effects.

“Our 11h program is a next-generation, orally bioavailable, brain-penetrant PDE4 inhibitor, where researchers overcame longstanding limitations associated with earlier PDE4 inhibitors," Dr. Dev Chatterjee, CEO of Goldenrod, said in the news release. "We believe this creates the potential for a best-in-class therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia and a potential foundation for development across multiple neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders.”

11h was first developed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNeMed). Houston-based Fannin Partners in-licensed the product 2020 and landed SBIR Phase I funding to support its initial development for opioid use disorder soon after.

Goldenrod has also received funding to study 11h's effectiveness for multiple sclerosis, methamphetamine addiction and cocaine addiction.

Goldenrod says it is developing 11h to target a variety of neurological and inflammatory conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, substance use disorders, Batten disease, pain and traumatic brain injury.

27 Houston companies make Fortune 500 for 2026, led by energy giants

Houston HQs

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the number of companies based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Houston is a giant among U.S. hubs for corporate headquarters.

The 2026 Fortune 500 lists 27 companies based in the Houston area, with many energy companies claiming top spots. Houston ties with Chicago for the second-most Fortune 500 headquarters, preceded only by New York City (53). Dallas-Fort Worth is home to 24 Fortune 500 headquarters.

Texas leads the nation for Fortune 500 headquarters (57), with California in the No. 2 spot and New York at No. 3.

“Texas is the undisputed headquarters of headquarters,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a news release. “The world’s leading businesses invest with confidence in Texas because of our welcoming business climate, predictable regulatory environment, and skilled and growing workforce. People and businesses are choosing Texas because Texas works.”

The 2026 Fortune 500 ranks the largest U.S. corporations based on revenue in fiscal year 2025.

Here’s a rundown of the 27 Fortune 500 companies based in the Houston area.

  • No. 9 ExxonMobil
  • No. 21 Chevron
  • No. 29 Phillips 66
  • No.55 Sysco
  • No. 75 ConocoPhillips
  • No. 89 Enterprise Products Partners
  • No. 103 Plains GP Holdings
  • No. 133 Hewlett Packard Enterprise
  • No. 149 NRG Energy
  • No. 157 Quanta Services
  • No. 164 Baker Hughes
  • No. 173 Occidental Petroleum
  • No. 179 Waste Management
  • No. 201 EOG Resources
  • No. 204 Group 1 Automotive
  • No. 207 Halliburton
  • No. 223 Cheniere Energy
  • No. 236 Corebridge Financial
  • No. 262 Targa Resources
  • No. 266 Kinder Morgan
  • No. 388 Westlake
  • No. 435 CenterPoint Energy
  • No. 438 APA
  • No. 440 Comfort Systems USA
  • No. 455 NOV
  • No. 488 KBR
  • No. 496 Coterra Energy. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based Devon Energy and Houston-based Coterra Energy merged in early May, with the combined company retaining the Devon Energy name and the Houston headquarters.

The Greater Houston Partnership notes the Houston area soon will welcome its 28th Fortune 500 company. Expand Energy (formerly Chesapeake Energy), appearing at No. 362 on the 2026 list, says it’s moving its headquarters from Oklahoma City to Spring this year.

As the natural gas producer prepares to relocate to Texas, it’s hunting for a new leader. Nick Dell’Osso stepped down as president and CEO earlier this year. Board Chairman Michael Wichterich is interim president and CEO.

Dell’Osso became president and CEO of Oklahoma City-based Gulfport Energy effective May 28.

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This article first appeared on EnergyCapitalHTX.com.