Cable takes a swing at IPTV

Monday, November 6. 2006

Cable takes a swing at IPTV

Broadlogic announced the awaited TeraPIX video processor today, which (theoretically) enables cable operators to "triple their digital spectrum available." In theory, this device reclaims about 450 MHz of a 750 MHz spectrum by converting analogue cable channels to digital, thus freeing up bandwidth for lots of other new services to be run through the pipes.

As GigaOm notes, it:

allows cable operators to better utilize the spectrum inside the coaxial cables, triple the digital spectrum and basically give the plain old coax capabilities to take fiber to the home (FTTH) technologies head on, at least for now.

More than just that though...it potentially gives Cable companies a new play against DSL based services, including IPTV.

It does not require the user to invest in a new set top box, but the catch is that the Cable Co's have to supply a new residential gateway architecture built with these chips. Not sure yet about the economics of individual suburban houses, but in apartment blocks in major conurbations the battle between Cable and IPTV could get quite interesting.

Posted by Alan Patrick in Quad Play at 12:30 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0) | Top Exits (0)

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Alan,

In my view, coaxial cable is the "right" way to deliver bandwidth to homes. It has always amazed me how the cable companies have managed to squander this unique asset!

The legacy analogue channels certainly eat up bandwidth (when modern MPEG encoders allow 12 or even 15 TV channels in the same bandwidth!) On the other hand, sending a truck out to every house where they still receive analogue channels is a big capital expenditure.

#1 David Short (Homepage) on 2006-11-07 08:32 (Reply)

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