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Late Tuesday night, Cox Communications announced that effective Wednesday, it is no longer selling its 3G wireless service, although it will continue to provide the service to its customers until March 30.
Cox said its decision to exit the wireless phone service market is based on the lack of wireless scale
Cox to shut down its wireless service
Cox dips its toe in IP waters with live streaming to iPad via Cox TV Connect
Continued on page 3
Continued on page 3
This year’s Cable-Tec Expo has largely lacked breaking news, but Cox provided the two biggest nuggets to date: It’s launching a live streaming service, called Cox TV Connect, during the holiday season, and separately, it has pulled the plug on its wireless phone service.
Cox’s Steve Necessary, vice president of video
product development and management, said Cox TV Connect will make its debut
during the holiday season with 35 national channels, but with no live sports out of the starting block.
In short, the service seems to be provisioned like Time Warner Cable’s iPad app;
but while Comcast and Time Warner Cable have had iPad
apps in customers’ hands for some time, Cox beat them to the punch on live streaming in homes.
Cox paired up with NDS Group to develop the user interface and digital rights management on the iPad app. Cox previously worked extensively with NDS on its Trio guide.
Cox customers can only receive the service in their homes through their cable modems. Necessary said the
Multi-screen challenges, enablers and benefits – see page 28
2 0 1 1 S H O W D A I L Y
® 3Cable-TeCeXPO 2011
Thursday November 17, 2011
C A B L E - T E C E X P O
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necessary to compete in the marketplace, the acceleration of competitive 4G networks and the inability to access iconic wireless devices. Cox is using Sprint Nextel’s network for its “Unbelievably Fair” branded service, so it may have had access to iPhones going forward.
It’s been a rocky road for Cox’s wireless offering. The cable company that is well known for its thoughtful engineering and dedication to customer service abandoned the build-out of its own 3G network earlier this year.
Cox first announced it would pursue its own wireless plans in 2008. It acquired wireless spectrum, which included both 700 MHz and Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum, from FCC auctions in 2006 and 2008. Cox spent more than $550 million for radio spectrum licenses to support its wireless plans, but the company’s plans for its wireless network were constantly behind schedule over the past few years.
In 2009, Cox signed a deal with Huawei to help build its
3G CDMA network. At the time, Cox said it planned on launching the service later that year. Cox has also previously announced that it was testing 4G LTE technology.
The slow build of the wireless network was
rumored to be a factor in the departure of former Cox CTO Ken Hatfield more than a year ago. In April, Cox hired former Clearwire executive Kevin Hart as its new CTO.
In March, Stephen Bye, Cox’s vice president of wireless and the point man for Cox’s wireless launches on Sprint’s network, left the company to go work for Sprint. Cox subsequently promoted Kelly Williams to vice president of wireless product and operations in April.
As for current Cox Wireless customers, they’ll receive a $150 credit on their bill for every line of wireless
phone service disconnected. Customers can keep their wireless devices, and all early termination fees will be waived. Also, wireless customers will continue to receive their bundled pricing for two years. Cox hasn’t
disclosed the number of subscribers it has for Cox Wireless.
“Cox is working to make this transition as seamless and easy as possible for our customers,” said Len Barlik, executive vice president of product development and management at Cox. “We are proud of our employees’ dedication to delivering the excellent customer service that Cox is known for, and we will continue to keep our wireless customers’ satisfaction a top priority during this transition period.
“We understand the importance of wireless to the customer experience. Cox is
looking at several options to continuously increase the value of our bundle of services.”
While privately held Cox has a plan in place for its wireless subscribers, it didn’t say what would happen to the wireless division employees.
“No decisions have been made at this time related to employees,” Cox spokesman Todd Smith wrote in an email to CED. “We have not said how many wireless employees we have. We have not disclosed our total investment numbers regarding wireless.”
Cox was on track to meet its stated goal of having the wireless service launched in 50 percent of its footprint by year’s end before it abruptly pulled the plug. The latest launch in September was across Cox’s entire California footprint, which included the San Diego and Santa Barbara areas.
With the addition of California, Cox’s “Unbelievably Fair” mobile phone service is now available in Omaha, Neb.; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.; Rhode Island; Hampton Roads, Roanoke and northern Virginia; and in Cox communities in Connecticut and Cleveland, Ohio.
Cox to shut down its wireless service
technology is in place for cable operators to deliver the same service beyond customers’ homes, but the rights issues still need to be worked out with the studios and content owners.
Necessary referred to Cox TV Connect as the company’s own over-the-top service, and while it’s free to Cox customers that subscribe to the 35 networks, Cox forked out significant funds to build an infrastructure in Atlanta to
convert MPEG-2 to MPEG-4.The service is also a way
to get Cox moving down the migration path to video over IP.
“The infrastructure that we’ve added to support this application is foundational to the delivery of IP video on a managed service, full-QoS basis,” Necessary said. “Fundamentally, this is our own over-the-top service when you think about it, so it’s best effort based on the capacity at the time. But it is foundational, so to extend the metaphor, you can
just think of this as one of the bricks in that foundation. Over time, there is more capacity.
“The good news is we’re going to continue to leverage the DOCSIS environment for the delivery of IP video. The bad news of today’s current DOCSIS, specifically CMTSs, is that they don’t scale cost-effectively for large-scale video delivery. So what we’re waiting on is CCAP, the next-generation CMTS environment. That’s going to be critical for enabling a more
scaled, full-QoS delivery of IP video. These are steps down the path.”
Necessary said Cox could have opted for a device-based iPad app, which would provision video wirelessly to iPads and other tablets, but that approach wasn’t foundational to Cox’s IP network evolution.
Cox TV Connect complements the company’s Web-based TV Everywhere portal, which was launched earlier this year.
Cox dips its toe in IP waters with live streaming to iPadContinued from page 1
Continued from page 1
3Complete conference coverage at www.CEDmagazine.com
4
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While there may not be a clear theme emerging from this week’s Cable-Tec Expo, it was standing room only at the IP Video Transition technical workshop on Wednesday.
Momentum for the migration to IP
networks has been building, and now it seems as if those cable operators and vendors are getting down to brass tacks.
“The cost structures, scalability,
and consumer behaviors and other factors are why some operators are transforming their networks from legacy MPEG-based delivery to network to an IP network,” said moderator Pragash Pillai, senior vice president of
digital network engineering for Cablevision. “Recent studies suggest that Internet media consumption grew 44 percent in 2011 compared to 2010 and is expected to continue to grow.”
Motorola’s Patrick Wright-Riley, director of strategy and
business development at Motorola Mobility, said the transition to IP will come in stages, and that for some, it will be a mixture of the current
MPEG-2, QAM-based architecture and IP elements.
“MPEG is a very efficient way of delivering video, but IP allows you to align voice, video and data down the same pathways,” Wright-Riley said. “I think they can complement one another to allow you to not only serve the TVs the way you do today, but also hit the PCs, iPads and mobile devices in the home.
“Multi-screen is the driver for IP. IP is kind of forced upon us as we start seeing more and more video on the Internet, user-generated content, and over-the-top VOD players. They’re putting pressure on us to figure out how to monetize ourselves, so that forces us to be able to hit the multi-screen.”
While the pressure is on to make the march to IP networks, Wright-Riley said one cable operator employee told him that his company still expects to have millions of QAM-based set-top boxes in its network by 2025.
IP video transition: How to get there from here
Complete conference coverage atwww.CEDmagazine.com SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 20114
The IP Video Transition session featured, from left, Mark Pellegri of Cox, moderator Pragash Pillai of Cablevision, Patrick Wright-Riley of Motorola and Jeff Brooks of Arris.
Thinkforward.
Seamless, cost-effi cient bandwidth growth on existing network assetsFujitsu 100G solutions are powering high-speed optical transport to meet
escalating demand for bandwidth. Designed for use on metro, regional and long-
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Overcome the challenges of optical transmission at high speeds. Make Fujitsu your
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See us at Booth 367.
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© Copyright 2011 Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. FUJITSU (and design)® and “shaping tomorrow with you” are trademarks of Fujitsu Limited in the United States and other countries. All Rights Reserved.
6Complete conference coverage at
www.CEDmagazine.com SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 20116
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Alpha Technologies is announcing a significant expansion of its Power Services offering, including the installation, construction and preventative maintenance of critical network power equipment.
With a national network of contractors, project managers and technicians, Alpha’s Installation Services program provides solutions for both outside plant and critical facility applications. Alpha combines small-, medium- and large-scale projects with the necessary installation resources to provide structure engineering, right-of-way and easement procurement, site preparation, equipment installation, and initial system turn-up and testing.
Alpha also provides preventative maintenance and critical plant hardening services.
And Alpha’s Repair Depots are positioned nationwide to provide repair
and refurbishment of all Alpha and third-party equipment.
Meanwhile, Alpha is combining advanced battery technology with its new intelligent power supply design to minimize truck rolls and reduce overall operating expenses. The pure-lead AlphaCell HP battery line offers
increased runtime and extended service life, thereby minimizing total cost of ownership.
“Network requirements demand increased runtime and
reliability, and Alpha has responded with
the development of the AlphaCell HP 3.5 and 4.0.
The thin-plate, pure-lead technology is the first in the market and boasts superior service life, with 20 percent more runtime over traditional VRLA batteries,” said Jim Heidenreich, vice
president of product management at Alpha.In addition to life expectancy gains, the
new technology allows for a low rate of self-discharge, which yields a significantly longer shelf life. The AlphaCell HP line offers three to five times longer shelf life than standard VRLA batteries, Alpha said.
Other features include 100 percent runtime capacity out-of-box, with no cycling required; maintenance-free threaded inserts; and a wide operating temperature. The increased performance in cold temperatures can also eliminate the need for battery heater mats in certain environments.
“When used with the next-generation XM3-HP embedded AlphaGuard, battery preventative maintenance costs can be reduced by more than 30 percent as a result of the intelligence reports generated by the XM3-HP,” added Heidenreich.
Embedded battery balancing within the XM3-HP power supply also increases the life expectancy of the AlphaCell HP battery by up to 20 percent.
Alpha Technologies expands Power Services offering
Alpha’s AlphaCell HP
4.0
8Complete conference coverage at
www.CEDmagazine.com SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 20118
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Trilithic is announcing a new test suite option for its 860 DSPi Field Analyzer. The LD-1 Linear Distortion Suite enables technicians to track down and troubleshoot linear distortions that can degrade the digital signals running on cable networks.
The new LD-1 Suite solves many of the common issues technicians face when encountering linear distortion-related problems, such as manually looking for bad passives, split cables, and loose or corroded hardware.
Paired with the Frequency Domain Reflectometer (FDR), this new find-and-fix option
determines the distance to all types of cable faults that cause microreflections
and in-channel linear distortions. Using this test suite, technicians can identify and analyze the distortions, pinpoint the location of the defect causing the problem and restore two-way service immediately.
Some of the benefits of the LD-1 Suite for the 860 DSPi include: more efficient troubleshooting, without the need to swap out hardware or inspect miles of plant; the technician being able to work independently, without the need to wait for further information from a server application or return maintenance system; and immediate restoration of two-way service at subscriber expectations, with the minimum mean time to repair (MTTR).
The LD-1 Linear Distortion Suite is available to install on all current 860 DSPi devices with a DOCSIS 2.0 or DOCSIS 3.0 8 x 4 modem.
Trilithic is at booth 554.
Trilithic adds test suite to 860 DSPi Field Analyzer
Trilithic’s 860 DSPi Field Analyzer
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10Complete conference coverage at
www.CEDmagazine.com SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201110
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Advanced Media Technologies is launching Bitreaper, a turnkey Internet video distribution solution that enables system operators to offer a subscription video streaming service with total control.
Bitreaper is offered as a fully white-labeled service and allows operators to create their own brand visibility on the Internet and mobile devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets and set-top boxes.
What sets the Bitreaper system apart, according to AMT, is the full suite of management products to automate subscriber order processing, perform subscriber account authentication, manage video content, monitor the end-to-end distribution network, track and report subscriber activity, and provide technical support.
A primary feature of
Bitreaper is the streaming bandwidth savings over traditional CDN networks, allowing system operators to grow their
business with lower operating expenses. Bitreaper Optimized Cloud Streaming Technology, powered by RayV, is an OTT
distribution system that offers up to 90 percent bandwidth savings over traditional CDNs. And combined with a managed grid network, the system provides HD-quality video for an end-to-end IP video delivery network.
With Bitreaper, system operators can generate additional revenue by adding new channels and by offering services to subscribers both inside and outside of their wired network, including community programming and niche channels – all on their branded apps. System operators can provide video on mobile and other Internet-connected devices with no added bandwidth required on the existing network.
Advanced Media Technologies is at booth 1146.
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12Complete conference coverage at
www.CEDmagazine.com SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201112
Volicon is enhancing its Observer Remote Program Monitor (RPM) with the addition of a new triggered recording module that aids cable operators in boosting service quality and customer satisfaction levels.
The module, optional on new and existing Observer RPM systems, automatically generates full-motion video clips of MPEG impairments and provides
cable operators with a visual “proof of experience,” thereby speeding up the analysis and resolution of issues in the transport stream. These audio/video clips are “triggered” by MPEG transport analysis and ad systems from companies such as Mixed Signals, Arris, SeaChange and IneoQuest.
“We’re continually refining the Observer RPM to give cable operators the tools they need to monitor their services more effectively and to isolate and mitigate any service impairments more quickly,” said Andrew Sachs, Volicon’s vice president of product management. “By automating the recording of content affected by MPEG transport stream impairments and, in turn, generating clips that demonstrate the visual impact of those impairments, the Observer RPM enables engineers and customer care staff to respond promptly to any service issues that might affect the subscriber experience.”
Volicon’s Observer RPM scans channels 24/7 and automatically tests
signal integrity, issues alerts (via email and SNMP), and captures the problematic content when channels do not conform to pre-specified limits. The system can monitor linear content for video or audio errors such as closed captioning, audio levels, and static screen or black screen.
Additionally, Volicon’s Observer RPM features loudness-monitoring tools that help cable operators maintain compliance with the CALM Act.
Volicon is also showcasing the Observer TS (transport stream) MPEG (ASI/IP/QAM) logging system. With the ability to capture and record full-resolution MPEG transport streams natively, the Observer TS allows cable operators to monitor feeds from local TV stations, identify faults within the transport stream, roll back video for review, troubleshoot errors, provide broadcasters and cable operators with clips illustrating the issue, and satisfy customer concerns about service quality.
Volicon is at booth 920.
Volicon tackles loudness monitoring with Observer RPM
Clearfield’s Clearview Cassette is your smart answer for fibermanagement. From the central office and all the way to the home,
Clearview is the building block for FieldSmart fiber management andprotection. With FieldSmart, deployments are quicker, required
inventories are reduced and echnical training is virtually eliminated.And with CraftSmart, pedestals, vaults and other enclosures are
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Volicon Observer RPM’s loudness monitoring module
14Complete conference coverage at
www.CEDmagazine.com SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201114
Our multi-screen solutions are open — for business in the cloud.
ADRENALIN BACK OFFICEDelivering millions of video assets to any device across multiple networks
INFUSION ADVANCED ADVERTISINGCentralizing operations for tens of thousands of insertable channels and multiple screens
NITRO SUBSCRIBER EXPERIENCEPresenting on-demand and linear content, leveraging HTML5
MEDIAWARE CONVERGED GATEWAY SOLUTIONStandards-based software supporting both QAM and IP delivered video
AFFINITY SOCIAL MEDIASharing on-demand subscriber experiences through virtual parties, Facebook and Twitter
CARDIO INTERACTIVE GATEWAY SOFTWAREAccessing operators' on-demand services through the latest CE devices
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NEXT GEN VIDEO PLATFORM ENABLES MULTI-SCREEN.
Pixelmetrix is featuring its headend and quality of experience monitoring tools: Electronic Couch Potato (ECP), DVStation-IP3 and IPGen.
The ECP connects after the set-top box and provides feedback on various service quality parameters to a central site. It is able to emulate an end user changing channels on a STB via a built-in infrared (IR) transmitter. Service plan verification, channel switching and multiple measurements on service quality for each channel
reported to a central management console give service providers insight into the viewer experience and confirmation of the availability of subscribed-to channels.
New for the ECP is the Video Quality Index (VQI). This video quality
measurement tool scans all channels and identifies common video impairments such as macroblocking, tiling and freeze frame, and then it combines them into a single, integrated metric. Results are consolidated across all channels and remote sites, making it easy to identify when and where video quality issues strike.
For IP
headend monitoring, the DVStation-IP3 and IPGen are combined. The former is a complete solution for video over IP quality assurance. It monitors all multicast and unicast streams on a fully loaded gigabit link. Supporting SPTS and MPTS, it provides coverage for IP, transport stream, SI and content. It also decodes video thumbnails for all services – encoding metadata and running blackout and freeze frame tests.
The IPGen, on the other hand, is a headend-in-a-box solution for stress testing of video transmission networks. It can generate up to a gigabit of video traffic, and it allows for customizable test profiles with a variety of impairments.
Pixelmetrix develops a host of IPTV and preventive monitoring systems that offer unique attributes and versatility, allowing operators to achieve end-to-end visibility and keep tabs on their network architecture.
Pixelmetrix is at booth 416.
Pixelmetrix adds Video Quality Index to its ECP
16
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Complete conference coverage atwww.CEDmagazine.com SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201116
Hitachi is showcasing its latest solutions for the cable industry, including its SuperJ Applications Environment and data center networking applications.
SuperJ is a middleware “ecosystem” for the OSGi service platform. It allows MSOs to deploy multiple revenue-generating apps to their subscribers, in many cases using existing customer devices such as cable modems and set-top boxes. The platform supports markets such as connected home, Smart Grid and telehealth, along with M2M applications that cross all of these vertical markets.
And Hitachi Data Systems Corp. and Hitachi Communication Technologies America are joining forces to provide high-speed, ultra-reliable technologies for campus and metro data center networking apps. The Hitachi AMN 6200 WDM system is certified to operate with all HDS storage platforms and supports advanced data center networking apps.
Hitachi is at booth 521.
Hitachi touts SuperJ
CommScope is ready to assist cable operators that are deploying technology to support their customers’ ever-increasing demand for new and higher-bandwidth services.
Using CommScope’s LxS-16016 wideband
edge QAM, operators can deploy technology that provides them with the flexibility to roll out all of their existing voice, video and data services, plus support higher-bandwidth and next-gen services over HFC networks, without the need for additional hardware
and without service disruptions.Deployments can include VOD, SDV, digital
broadcast video, DOCSIS and IPTV. This mix of services can take place on the same physical redundant RF port, without the need for headend
reconfiguration or service disruption. The LxS-16016 offers up to 160 QAM
channels on each of its 16 RF ports, totaling 2,560 QAMs in a small, fully redundant 4RU chassis.
Meanwhile, the company’s BrightPath Optical Solution (BOS) is a complete,
scalable, end-to-end FTTx solution that can be set across multiple fiber architectures. BOS
deployments allow operators to cost-effectively deliver high-bandwidth services and to use all of their existing infrastructures.
And with CommScope’s OneBase InSite Connect, operators can remotely monitor the security, environment and other vital parameters at a hub site using one solution. It remotely manages and monitors the subsystems at each hub site, enabling network operators to coordinate and manage the conditions at remote facilities
across their networks. CommScope is also showcasing its hydrogen
fuel cell power solution, its free-air shelter cooling solutions, its Intelligent Addressable Tap and its intelligent infrastructure solution.
CommScope is at booths 20 and 1854.
CommScope helps operators with new, higher-bandwidth services
CommScope’s LxS-16016 (top) and OneBase InSite Connect
18 SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201118
Hitron Technologies is showcasing a DOCSIS 3.0 8 x 4 wireless cable gateway with an integrated four-port Gigabit Ethernet switch and a Wi-Fi 802.11n 3 x 3 MIMO access point.
The wireless cable gateway, the Hitron CGN, delivers speeds of up to 320 Mbps (8 x 4) with eight bonded downstream channels over its DOCSIS interface. The integrated four-port Gigabit Ethernet switch and Wi-Fi 802.11n 3 x 3 MIMO access point enable home networking.
The Wi-Fi
solution can outperform current 2 x 2 solutions by up to 250 percent, Hitron said, enabling subscribers to take
advantage of the speeds provided by DOCSIS 3.0. The
CGN provides both higher short-range bandwidth, as well as faster speeds at longer ranges, while covering larger areas fully.
The CGN supports pre-configured and pre-enabled Wi-Fi security via Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), allowing the end user to set up a secure wireless network without manual configuration.
For the network and routing management, the Hitron CGN supports TR-69, HNAP and IPv6 routing. Cable operators can not only choose DSLite or 6RD for their different IPv6 deployment and transition strategies, but they can also enhance their management and stability for low total cost of ownership, the vendor said.
“Building on our success with Tier 1 European and Asian cable operators, this is an exciting time for Hitron Technologies as we enter the North American market,” said Todd Babic, chief sales and marketing officer at Hitron Technologies. “Our customers’ competitive landscape is more dynamic than ever. With Hitron’s resources, we can deliver first-to-market products, like the CGN, which will be critical for our ongoing success, as well as our valued MSO customers.”
Hitron is at booth 1810.
Hitron’s CGN can deliver speeds up to 320 Mbps
Complete conference coverage atwww.CEDmagazine.com
Hitron CGN
turn the same old thing into the next new thing.Tomorrow is at your doorstep. With the convergence of new technology and consumer demand for video on the go, there’s no better time to evolve your network with Motorola.
We’re continually expanding data and video capacity of our network solutions to stay ahead of consumers ever-changing needs. Our innovative solutions use your current network to deliver more IP services so you can deliver more content to more people without investing, well…more.
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Visit us at SCTE, BOOTH #1268, or www.motorola.com/videosolutions.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. ©2011 Motorola Mobility, Inc.
MCSA13808 CED_Daily_Ad_Shift_IP_Network_103111.indd 1 11/4/11 12:38 PM
20 SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201120
ATX’s Maxnet II product line is now re-tooled to support both HFC and RFoG/PON deployments.
With HFC deployments, ATX is demonstrating its Maxnet II “wire-once” F-connector-based platform that includes
optical transmission and reception, narrowcast combing, and return path splitting for up to 50 node segments in one rack.
The platform accommodates up to 10 forward-path transmitters, with up to
eight narrowcast input ports or 20 return-path receivers, in a redundantly powered, fully managed (SNMP, Web) 3RU chassis.
On the RFoG/
PON front, the company’s Maxnet II RFoG/PON transceiver module is fully integrated with all of the distribution and receiving components required for service delivery to and from 128 ONU/Ts into one module, so that a total of 1,280 ONU/Ts can be served from a 3RU platform.
ATX’s RFoG/PON transceiver module integrates a 1550 nm full broadcast transmitter; a high-output, four-port EDFA; optical filters for RFoG and PON lambdas; and a quad-pack, low-noise RFoG receiver with <1.5pA/rtHz
sensitivity. Each module services four groups of 32 ONUs. Ten such modules will fit into a 3RU redundantly powered, fully managed chassis.
Other options include an RFoG-only module (without PON support) and a PON module with 1550 overlay
(without RFoG receivers). ATX is at booth 1363.
ATX bolsters Maxnet II for HFC, RFoG/PON
Multiple Solutions. One Source.3150 SW 15th Street | Deerfi eld Beach, FL 33442 | 954.427.5711 | [email protected]
For a Limited Time Exchange Your Used DCH DVR’s for Brand New
DCX Series Set-Tops!
AMT’s Set-Top Exchange Program, Upgrading Made Simple!
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. © Motorola, Inc. 2011
For more information, call 888.293.5856 or visit amt.com
Booth #1146
Complete conference coverage atwww.CEDmagazine.com
ATX’s Maxnet II
Product ShowcaseCable-Tec Expo
CABLE WI-FI: MORE EASE, LESS CHURN.
The smartest decisions should be a breeze to make—and implement. Our integrated, end-to-end Cable Wi-Fi is both. Its seamless wireless connectivity uses the existing cable infrastructure, so you can offer business services and expand your market reach without spending a bundle. Customers are happy. You’re happy. Smart decision? A no-brainer.
See us at SCTE Cable-Tec ExpoBooth 1268
www.motorola.com/videosolutions
11MotoWiFips.indd 1 11/12/11 5:48 PM
Universal Drop Cable Enclosure by Clearfield
With the Clearview xPak at its heart, the FieldSmart Small Count Delivery (SCD) Case is the industry’s only universal drop cable enclosure. While providing configuration flexibility in any fiber deployment, the SCD Case is the only enclosure optimized for pushable fiber. Join the conversation at www.FiberPuzzle.com and read our white paper: “Reducing the Cost of Fiber Restoration with Pushable Fiber.”
See us at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, Booth 1908
www.clearfieldconnection.com
11clearfieldps.indd 1 11/14/11 12:00 PM
TEIntroducesNew CompactCWDMmodule!TE Connectivity’s latest innovation provides bandwidth capacity expansion in one of the industry’s smallest packages. Its compact size and unique carrier tray make it easier to deploy in a variety of field situations.Features: • Available in 4- or 8-channel configurations • Can be field- or factory-installed • Unique carrier tray provides fast and easy snap-in mounting to any TE splice tray or closure
SeeusattheSCTECable-TecExpo
Booth538
te.com/CCWDM
11TEConnectivityps.indd 1 11/13/11 8:24 PM
TE-2000 Spectrum Analyzer HD
ATCi’s TE-2000 HD is the ultimate test field instrument for both terrestrial and satellite covering North America and world standards. This high-performance light-weight instru-
ment features superior performance, advanced Color TV/SAT Meter, durable construction that is compatible with analog, digital (DVB) satellite standard. Custom-ers who order a TE-2000 HD before year end will receive $1,000 off purchase price.
See us at Cable-Tec ExpoBooth 1015
www.atci.com
11ATCips.indd 1 11/13/11 8:26 PM
Motorola SecureMedia HLS+
Motorola’s SecureMedia HLS+ is a streamlined platform for delivering linear and on-demand content over variable networks and devices. HLS+ leverages HLS as a common content distribution method, while providing customized clients for each device. Service provider costs of encod-ing, processing, and storing content in multiple formats for numerous devices are minimized, and workflows are simplified.
See us at SCTE Cable-Tec ExpoBooth 1268
www.motorola.com/videosolutions
11MotoSecureMediaps.indd 1 11/13/11 8:25 PM
SignalTight™ Drop Connectors
PPC SignalTight™ connectors combine many connector technology firsts, including True Universal™ compression technology and the AquaTight® integrated weather seal. PPC’s SignalTight™ continuity connector is the solu-tion when subscribers interfere with your installations. Proven network health gains and service call reduc-tions with more than 100,000,000 connectors installed. PPC’s complete line of SignalTight™ connectors and much more will be displayed and demonstrated at:
SCTE Cable-Tec ExpoBooth 1162
www.ppc-online.com
11PPCps.indd 1 11/13/11 8:23 PM
Track down and cure lineardistortions in your plant
A new test option suite for Trilithic’s 860 DSPi Field Analyzer, LD-1, effi ciently troubleshoots the causes of linear distortions from hardline to the cabling and hardware in the subscriber’s house. Using the power of the LD-1 suite, the tech can identify and analyze linear distortions, then use the built-in Frequency Domain Refl ectometer (FDR) to pinpoint the location of the defect causing the problem. Fast and effi cient, the LD-1 suite restores two-way services at sub-scriber expectations with the minimum MTTR. Think Ahead. Visit eas.trilithic.com or call (800) 344-2412
See us at the SCTE Cable-Tec ExpoBooth 554
11trilithic3ps.indd 1 11/13/11 8:28 PM
CATV SolutionsWe’ve Got You Covered. www.veexinc.com
Visit us at Booth #1742
World’s smallest full featured DOCSIS 3.0 analyzers
CX150-D3+CX180-D3+DOCSIS 3.0CATV Analyzers
NEWThe new VePAL CX150-D3+ and CX180-D3+ are the industry’s smallest and most portable handheld testers to verify and provision 8x4 channel bonding used in high bandwidth DOCSIS 3.0 CATV networks. An integrated, dual band DOCSIS 3.0 modem enables MSOs, Service Providers and Installati on Contractors to evaluate High Speed Internet, and other advanced multi media service off erings to residenti al, mobile backhaul and SMB customers.
16-Way Active Splitterfrom ViewTEQ
The new ViewTEQUHP-103-16LPP is a
16-way active splitter with 0.0 dB insertion loss. 950-2150 MHz bandwidth and high isolation.
1RU chassis to save space. LNB powering possible through input
connector.
See us at theSCTE Cable-Tec Expo
Booth 219www.viewteq.com
11ViewTEQps.indd 1 11/12/11 5:52 PM
Times Fiber against Moisture Damage!
Moisture damage now faces an unprecedented Triple Threat with lifeTime® coaxial cable, QC II with QuickShield™ and Extreme Broadband Passives and Actives with 100% F-port sealing1. QuickPrep Cable with lifeTime®
-Impedes moisture migration2. QC II with internal weather seal -Airtight seal prevents moisture migration3. Extreme passives and actives -With 100% F-port sealing to 15PSI
“Innovation at all the right Times!”
See us at theSCTE Cable-Tec Expo
Booth 942www.timesfiber.com
11TFCps.indd 1 11/13/11 8:32 PM
EASy Solution for Handling CAP Mandates
Trilithic’s new EASyCAP Encoder/Decoder is a next-generation integrated Emergency Manage-ment System that includes everything system operators need to deliver CAP-based audio and video alerts. The one-box solution offers EAS, CAP, local access messages, audio/video pe-ripherals, control over serial and network-based devices, interfaces to management systems, and network protocols and interfaces. Think Ahead. Visit eas.trilithic.com or call (800) 344-2412
See us at the SCTE Cable-Tec ExpoBooth 554
11trilithic1ps.indd 1 11/12/11 6:02 PM
Automated Leakage Solutions that Reduce Operating Costs to
Improve Your Bottom Line
The Seeker GPS all-electronic system adds effi ciency by automating every aspect of the leakage management process, from leak monitoring and detection to data management, quick and effi cient repair, to work order closeout, all enhanced by precise GPS navigation. Think Ahead.
Visit www.trilithic.com or call (800) 344-2412
See us at the SCTE Cable-Tec ExpoBooth 554
Improve Your Bottom Line
The Seeker GPS all-electronic system adds effi ciency by automating every aspect of the leakage management process, from leak monitoring and
quick and effi cient repair, to work
11trilithic2ps.indd 1 11/14/11 11:28 AM
ViewTEQ & IP-NET Link Up
ViewTEQ Corp today announced an agree-ment with IP-NET LLC. With this agreement, ViewTEQ will be able to offer video provid-ers a comprehensive IP-based digital video transmission solution for their networks.
ViewTEQ will present the IP-NET product line at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo in
Atlanta on November 15-17, 2011; Booth 219.
www.viewteq.com
11ViewTEQ2ps.indd 1 11/14/11 11:27 AM
Carrier Class SolutionsWe’ve Got You Covered. www.veexinc.com
While Carrier Ethernet is the technology of choice for Access, Core and Mobile Backhaul Networks, VeEX testers are the product of choice to streamline deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooti ng of these applicati ons. Need a soluti on to verify Ethernet to new ITU Y.1564 SLA standards, perform OAM fault management tests, or check new synchronizati on protocols such as ITU SyncE and IEEE 1588v2? For proven performance and reliability,
Visit us at Booth #1742.
troubleshooti ng of these applicati ons. Need a
ITU-T Y.1564Ethernet OAMSyncE/IEEE 1588v2
NEW
Line & Subscriber Solutions
Antronix offers Passives, Amplifiers, Hardware plus much more. Most include CamPort® auto-seizing F-connectors, with over 2,000 grams of pull force. Also available are Taps featuring integral signal conditioning and Retrofit versions that fit into existing housings. Recent introductions include: Drop Amplifiers for VoIP, MoCA Point of Entry Filters and Fiber Nodes.
See us at SCTE Cable-Tec ExpoBooth 729
www.antronix.net
11Antronixps.indd 1 11/13/11 8:29 PM
Motorola Televation™ Hosted App
Deliver TV beyond the TV. Televa-tion’s single QAM tuner, CableCARD decryp tion and SecureMedia™ IPRMHN technol ogy have won awards and generated excitement. Now, with the Televation hosted client app, this ground-breaking product is available to a wider range of service providers. Offer consumers a new way to watch live TV on tablets anywhere in the home. The Televation Hosted App streamlines set-up costs and speeds time to market by using Motorola’s fully customizable graphical interface and eliminating the need to develop a custom app from scratch.
See us to learn more atSCTE Cable-Tec Expo Booth 1268
www.motorola.com/televation
11MotoTVps.indd 1 11/12/11 5:48 PM
DVM downstream monitoring probe from Electroline
Electroline is introducing the Digital Video and Network Monitor (DVM) downstream monitor-ing probe. Installed at strategic locations in the HFC network, the DVM provides continuous scanning of key performance indicators, essentially giving the operator an overall health check of the RF Network and MPEG services.
See us at SCTE Cable-Tec ExpoBooth 1335
www.electroline.com
Belden’s Ten Year Warranty
Belden offers peace of mind with the industry’s best warranty when Snap-N-Seal connectors and Cable Pro tools are used with Belden cable. Belden is recognized as a trusted brand for cabling products and now manu-factures some of the industry’s leading brands in connectivity.
See us at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, Booth 550
www.belden.com1.800.BELDEN.1 (800.235.3361)
11Beldenps.indd 1 11/14/11 2:52 PM
SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201124
InnoTrans Communications is demonstrating its new Adaptive Return Transmitter (ART), which uses patent-pending Clipping Mitigation technology used in InnoTrans’ Chromadigm full-band forward transmitter. The ART module is designed to improve the dynamic RF input range by up to 6 dB to 8 dB over current available return transmitters.
InnoTrans Communications is also demonstrating how its Chromadigm full-band 1550
DWDM solutions can be
initially deployed for node splitting and fiber reclamation, and then converted to a Fiber Deep or RFoG solution without taking down the existing network.
“Increasing return bandwidth is causing a significant strain on today’s return transmitters,” said InnoTrans CEO Mani Ramachandran. “While current return transmitters operate over a narrow RF input level for a fixed amount of return bandwidth (5-42 MHz), field environment temperature swings, variation in levels and network ingress cause clipping and under-modulation, resulting in packet loss and degradation in BER performance. The new InnoTrans ART eliminates these problems without the cost and complexity of digital return solutions.”
InnoTrans is at booth 1535.
InnoTrans demos return transmitter
RFMD is here showing off a few amplifiers and what it said is the first surface mount GaN power doubler module aimed at the cable space – the RFCM2680.
Employing a combination of GaN HEMT and GaAs pHEMT technologies, the RFCM2680 provides high output capability from 45-1003 MHz with quality distortion performance.
As for those amplifiers, the first is the RFPP2870 high-gain GaN hybrid amplifier. The push-pull amplifier features 28 dB minimum gain at 1003 MHz, with quality distortion characteristics and optimal reliability. It employs GaN HEMT, GaAs MESFET and GaAs pHEMT and operates from 40-1003 MHz.
The second is the RFAM2790 edge
QAM surface mount amplifier, an integrated module employing a GaAs pHEMT die, a GaAs MESFET die, a 20 dB range variable attenuator
and a power-enable feature. It provides high output power and quality linearity and return loss performance with low noise and optimal reliability.
And the RFCA8818 push-pull amplifier is aimed at cable MDU, drop amplifier and line amplifier applications. Operating from a single power supply and containing internal
input and output matching, the part provides 17 dB gain and +34 dBmV output power and features low noise performance of 2 dB.
RFMD is at booth 1546.
RFMD displays amplifiers, RFCM2680
Antenna Technology Communications Inc. is announcing that major U.S. cable MSOs have adopted and implemented its Simulsat-5B retrofit kits in several sites across the nation.
Simulsat-5B is ATCi’s newest entry in the Simulsat line of multi-beam satellite transport systems. The system is specifically designed to economically improve upon the longstanding full-arc flexibility of multi-beam antennas, the original Simulsat-5. Simulsat-5 transitions into the improved Simulsat-5B, which is designed from the ground up using composite fabrication, computer simulation and solid
modeling technologies.“In today’s demanding digital satellite
environment, ATCi’s Simulsat-5B system represents a significant step forward in multi-beam satellite technology that provides the margin satellite users need to keep their services up and online,” said ATCi’s CEO Gary Hatch. “With the advent of MPEG-4/DVB-S2 modulation, upgrading our older Simulsat customers’ systems to the latest high-tolerance design is critical for them to maintain the highest-quality digital reception.”
ATCi is at booth 1015.
Electroline is showing a new drop amplifier at Expo that incorporates a return path gate that virtually disconnects the in-home network from the return path when no signals are being transmitted from a customer’s CPE device.
The new feature blocks the noise that enters the return network and accumulates at the receivers in the headend.
A patent-pending technology is implemented to provide the fast gating necessary to operate in the burst mode return transmission systems typical of HFC subscriber networks.
Electroline is also showing a video QoS monitor. The DVM7500 continuously
scans all digital channels being transported on an HFC
network’s coaxial segments and reports, to the OSS, impairments that can impact the subscriber’s
quality of service. It monitors the RF performance of
the access network, and it also can dive into the MPEG transport stream to catch things that really impact the service quality experienced by the subscriber.
Electroline is at booth 1335.
ATCi deploys retrofit kits with U.S. MSOs
Electroline shows new drop amplifier
Complete conference coverage atwww.CEDmagazine.com
InnoTrans ART
Electroline’s drop
amplifiers
The demand for video on a variety of screens is clear. The reasons
that more service providers aren’t supporting multiple screens right
now are somewhat less apparent, but they boil down to this: There
are a lot of moving parts, and it’s not easy to get them all meshed.
It might not be brain surgery, but neither is it trivial, and the checklist of
to-do’s is long.
Attendees will learn:
• What headend preparations are required?
• What network preparations are required?
• What back office preparations are required?
• No one can support all streaming formats and all devices, so
how do you choose which ones? How do you leave yourself the
option for choosing others?
• Does your network architecture have any affect on your imple-
mentation of a multi-screen strategy?
• How does one secure content to multiple screens?
• How can one monetize content to new devices like tablets and
phones? Does it impact the architecture? Does it enable new
business models?
• What are some of the unanticipated challenges, and what are the
options for solving them?
CED Presents an Educational Webinar
Presented by: In Association with:
REGISTER FREE: www.CEDmagazine.com/multiscreen
Moderator
Brian Santo
Editor-in-Chief
CED
Panelists
Matthew Zelesko
SVP of Web Services &
Technology
Time Warner Cable
Arnaud Perrier
VP of Solutions
Envivio
Steven Davi
SVP of Advanced Technology
SeaChange
Implementing
Multi-screen:
Preparing
for Deployment
Thursday, December 8, 2011 • 11:00 a.m. ET; 8:00 a.m. PT • Duration: 1 Hour
REGISTER FREE: www.CEDmagazine.com/multiscreen
SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201126
The 2011 class of Pacesetter Award recipients represent innovators in a number of endeavors crucial to the competitive viability of cable operators around the world, including business services, optical networking and multi-screen delivery.
The recipient of the first Pacesetter ever given for Multi-Screen Video Technology is the multi-screen video team at Virgin Media, one of the very first operators to implement a multi-screen delivery system.
The Virgin Media Player, an online and mobile TV service, was launched during the middle of 2010, offering an impressively rich catalog of titles with thousands of hours of content.
Virgin Media may be unique in
its deployment of a multitude of access models and product bundling options. The company is continuing to evolve the service with the adoption of new DRM technologies, unlocking new content providers and setting a framework for migration to HTTP Adaptive Streaming.
The service runs on SeaChange International’s multi-screen technology and managed service infrastructure.
The Multi-Screen Video Technology Pacesetter is sponsored by SeaChange.
The Pacesetter in the category of Advanced Architectures is bestowed upon Roger Hughes, senior engineer of Armstrong Cable, for proving the value of RF over glass (RFoG) in
rural applications.When first popularized, RFoG was
used largely in greenfields, serving new housing communities. Hughes recognized that fiber’s low-loss characteristic made the architecture ideal for rural applications, as well. Employing Aurora Networks’ VHub and RFoG technology, Hughes demonstrated that a rural carrier like Armstrong could expand its fiber network to economically reach new subscribers.
“Once the architecture and proof-of-concept for a fiber-to-the-home RFoG network was complete, Roger took the architectural concept and turned it into a very cost-effective, easily deployable network. He continues to drive down costs, enabling us to push our network to smaller home-passed rural areas. We’re very proud of his hard work and accomplishments,” said Mike Giobbi, CTO at Armstrong.
The Advanced Architectures Pacesetter is sponsored by Aurora.
In the category of Innovative Network Engineering, Melody Rock, manager of optical systems at Shaw Cablesystems, is recognized for devising and implementing a network architecture that will support Shaw’s goal to dramatically increase bandwidth connectivity speeds to its customers.
To meet the 10x increase, Shaw carefully considered capex and opex considerations balanced against performance and reliability requirements. The result was one of the largest single deployments of 40G optical transport circuits in Canada, based on equipment from Fujitsu.
The Innovative Network Engineering Pacesetter is sponsored by Fujitsu.
CED’s 2011 Pacesetter Awards
27Complete conference coverage at www.CEDmagazine.com
Suddenlink’s corporate field operations manager, Mark Hood, is the recipient of the Test & Measurement Pacesetter.
The entire industry has had to emphasize quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE), while at the same time strive to improve operating efficiencies. The common element to both concerns is a smooth-running network, and that’s the purview of test and measurement.
Hood championed the use of an integrated test system, the VeEx CX350, that tests both cable TV and DOCSIS network elements to support home certification, reporting and an onboard dispatch system.
The combination has improved the efficiency of Suddenlink’s network maintenance.
The Test & Measurement Pacesetter is sponsored by VeEx.
The recipient of the Pacesetter for Business Services is Lisa Papageorgiou, director of marketing for Comcast Business Services.
Lisa has been pivotal to the success of Comcast’s business services, bringing momentum and innovation to Comcast’s E-Rate program, aimed at the education market, and its health care marketing initiative for the medical market. She was cited for her
drive and enthusiasm, moving both projects at an expedited pace. Comcast is relying on Ethernet systems supplied by Ciena.
The Business Services Pacesetter is sponsored by Ciena.
CED congratulates theWINNERS OF THE 8th ANNUAL
Pacesetter Awards
INNOVATIVE NETWORK ENGINEERINGMelody Rock
Manager Optical Systems, Shaw Cablesystems
Sponsored by Fujitsu
SPONSORSADVANCED ARCHITECTURES
Roger HughesSenior Engineer
Armstrong
Sponsored by Aurora Networks
BUSINESS SERVICESLisa Papageorgiou
Director of Marketing
Comcast Business Services
Sponsored by Ciena, The Network Specialist
MULTI-SCREEN VIDEO TECHNOLOGYMulti-Screen Technology Team
Virgin Media
Sponsored bySeaChange International
TEST & MEASUREMENTMark Hood
Corporate Field Operations Manager
Suddenlink™
Sponsored byVeEX Inc.
PaceSetters11.indd 1 11/16/11 5:40 PM
CED’s 2011 Pacesetter Awards
CEDwould like tothank all the
sponsors of thisyear’s Pacesetter
Awards
SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201128
By Jim Elayan, vice president of marketing at itaas
Over the past year, cable executives have showcased and deployed applications that extend video services to new consumer electronics devices such as tablets, smartphones and connected TVs. Driven by the rise of mobile computing platforms and fierce competition from over-the-top entertainment providers, multi-screen applications offer competitive parity, and perhaps even some advantages to the set-top box-centric world of cable TV. Now is a great time
to take stock of the challenges, enablers and benefits of multi-screen application development and plot a course that turns a threat into an opportunity.
With the launch of new consumer services, companies face business and technical challenges that impede time to market and successful deployments. Multi-screen app development for the cable TV industry is no different. Some unique business and technical challenges must be addressed to take advantage of the
“appmania” that is sweeping the CE industry.
Business challengesConflicting business interests often
delay deployment in multi-platform applications. Service providers aim to own the customer; device manufacturers want to be bigger players; content providers need to keep affiliates happy while reaching out to consumers.
Everyone wants a share of the profits. But what happens when interests fail to align? For example, do existing carriage deals extend to devices such as tablets? At a time when programming costs are
a battleground, extending the reach and value of content vs. access to the consumer makes multi-screen mobile content both compelling and threatening. No doubt, the lawyers will work out these challenges!
As an example, selecting the correct CE platform is integral to any plan for success. Is a smartphone application better than a tablet application for viewing images or entering text? Is the objective to increase
VOD consumption? Then a tablet might be a better choice than a phone, despite the number of deployed devices. The best choice may lie in aligning the purpose of the application with the demographics of the target audience more than by the hype associated with a particular platform.
Technology challengesA simple onscreen graphic, or the icon on
a second- or third-screen device, masks an underlying complexity. It’s not “just an icon.”
Depending on the use case, an application can interact with an expansive range of technologies and data sources, including:• Set-top middleware and operating systems (OS)• DVR controls• VOD clients• Video distribution networks and architecture• Provisioning, authentication and billing systems• Content management systems (CMSs)• Content delivery networks (CDNs)• Program guides• Content metadata• Digital rights management (DRM)• Database development and deployment• IT infrastructure and device networking protocols• Translation and messaging servers• Website development and data architecture• CE device software.
An additional challenge is our legacy. How do we bridge the “old world” with the “new world”? Unlike CE devices that are often considered “disposable,” set-tops have at least a seven-year lifecycle. These platforms are working well and generating significant income but create a technology barrier. The limitations of legacy set-tops were for the most part the result of tradeoffs in the ever-raging battle of cost vs. performance. But the increasing performance of computing and mobile platforms is widening the gap between the capabilities of a set-top and the expectations of consumers. Multi-screen applications offer a chance to leverage both legacy and mobile platforms but require a complex network of software and servers to tie it all together.
Skilled developers with deep knowledge of both old and new technologies can navigate the systems and servers to build innovative multi-screen apps. This process is facilitated by the capabilities of the technologies that serve as enablers.
The enablersOver the past few years, the
developments in smartphones and mobile
Multi-screen challenges and benefits – and the enablersDo you have all that it takes to be successful?
Figure 1: An example of an application network.
Channel Change
Scores/Channel Feeds
OOB
EBIF Server
Firewall
Billing Sys.
Scores Database
TMS Data Feed Scores Feed
MSO UserHome
Complete conference coverage at www.CEDmagazine.com 29
Multi-screen challenges and benefits – and the enablers
computing overlapped the development and deployment of new technology standards for interactivity in the cable TV industry. As with many technology breakthroughs, the result may have been an unintended one. It is doubtful that developers of tablet computers thought of controlling set-top boxes any more than those developing platforms for interactive advertising thought of using a smartphone to tune a set-top box. But, regardless, several platforms emerged that provided the impetus for connecting the mobile computing world with the TV experience.
OCAP (tru2way)While OCAP’s customer-facing tru2way
brand and retail mission have seemingly stalled, MSOs that deployed the software are still widely leveraging its capabilities.
In addition to the clear benefits in graphics and performance, OCAP-enabled boxes generally have better data throughput and external connectivity than other platforms. This technology is well positioned at some multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to serve as a bridge to emerging technology deployments, while providing some degree of competitive parity in systems fighting for the same subscriber base. The primary limitation is in the current size of the deployed footprint.
EBIFEBIF is an effective multi-screen enabler
with a larger install base that uses extensible markup language (XML) as application source code. EBIF is lightweight software and can execute binary code on new and old set-tops, albeit with graphical limitations. While simple apps may be relatively self-contained, the most interesting and valuable ones are those that reach out to the “world beyond” for assets and information.
The EBIF platform can facilitate communication with handhelds, including tablets and smartphones via back office connectivity. The latest version of EBIF (IO6) features additional interactive television and business-related functionalities, including support for unbound applications, time-shifted apps, addressability and other enhancements.
In fact, EBIF is the “secret sauce” that has enabled many of the tablet-based platforms for set-top control in the market today. A small, unbound EBIF application is the control mechanism for the tuning commands issued on the tablet. This is a far cry from the original intent of interactive advertising.
But despite all of the positives of EBIF, the deployments are proceeding more slowly than originally envisioned, and there have been some disruptive effects from the abundance of user agents and development approaches that require MVPDs with a variety of technology approaches to use multiple platforms and additional testing to create the best consumer experience. Nonetheless, EBIF is already the most widely deployed interactive platform and will offer significant multi-screen app advantages.
The cloudThe use of cloud-based servers for
data and authentication makes new platforms accessible to a wide range of consumers and greatly improves the cost models associated with server deployments. One database in the cloud can do what once required dozens of local servers.
An app may require servers to conduct searches, collate data from multiple locations, and interpret and translate data in order to talk to the set-top. The cloud provides the efficiency and access to data that makes multi-screen viable.
CE devicesAs an enabler, the ubiquity of the
smartphone and tablet technology cemented the future of multi-screen apps. The installed base of 18 million consumer-funded, Web-enabled devices (tablet computers) offer access to greater processing power and graphics
capabilities than any set-top. The fact that these devices stay within arm’s reach makes them an ideal second screen or control screen. Plus, the keyboard and text-entry capabilities add the “icing” that a standard set-top remote cannot provide.
Read this feature in its entirety in CED’s November/December issue, located in the Expo publication bins.
Figure 3: The iN Demand event reminder app.
Figure 2: Search and discovery on an iPad.
SCTE Cable-Tec Expo Show Daily Day Three November 17, 201130Complete conference coverage at
www.CEDmagazine.com
It hasn’t gotten to the point where we’ve struck a partnership deal with Berlitz yet, but over the past couple of years
there’s been a dramatic increase in interest from the international community in SCTE’s products and services. Those of you who are at Cable-Tec Expo should keep your Google Translate apps handy. Like our sizable contingent of visitors from outside of the U.S., our roster of international exhibitors continues to trend upward. As of this writing, we have 57 exhibitors from abroad, 10 more than last year’s total, with the potential of more to come. In addition, we’ll have discussion of the landscape abroad at our annual International Breakfast, as well as an agreement with the ANGA Cable Show that will continue SCTE’s expansion into a worldwide source of technical expertise and training. Not to mention the official launch of our SCTE-Central Europe Chapter.
Whether it’s Paris, France, or Paris, Ky., there is a growing need among cable system operators, vendors and programmers for industry-approved training, certification and objective analysis of new technologies. While SCTE’s most notable accomplishments over the past 24 months primarily have been focused on the U.S. cable market, they have not escaped the notice of our brethren in Europe, the CALA market and, most recently, China. The launch of SEMI, increased activity in the international standards arena and the development of a robust Professional Development program have all been springboards to increased international activity, including:
• An announcement that SCTE and the ANGA Cable Show have reached an agreement to act as “International Cable Show Partners,” mutually enhancing learning opportunities through such activities as providing moderators and speakers for the two
organizations’ respective technical conference sessions.
• The official launch of our SCTE-Central Europe Chapter, based in Frankfurt, Germany.
• Participation by Claus Adams, president of SCTE-Central Europe; Carsten Engelke of ANGA; German Iaryczower, vice president of sales for CALA at Arris; and Hiroshi Asami, executive vice president of JCTEA, at the International Breakfast.
• Entry of SCTE into the Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), with an eye toward shepherding international adoption of our SCTE 130 standard for advanced advertising.
• A growing presence in the CALA market, including the development of Spanish-language SCTE training materials by a Spanish-language translation working group led by Rolando Barja, an SCTE member in Bolivia, as well as an upcoming Spanish version of the new SCTE installer manual and an enhanced relationship with the Jornadas International conference and exposition.
So what do QAMs in Cologne have to do with quality of service in Columbus? In today’s competitive environment, it comes down to this: The need for cable to
use all of the global tools at its disposal to improve service delivery, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction. Many of the same challenges cable faces in the United States – including the migration to IPv6, the development of new IP-based business and residential services, and energy management and power availability – are or will soon be on the radar of the industry around the world.
From an SCTE perspective, a global
presence that includes activity in these areas and others offers clear advantages to all parties. In most cases, the same field-proven resources that have already been developed and embraced in a given market can be adopted or adapted to accelerate
the deployment of new services that will enhance the bottom lines of operators around the globe. Equally important, the involvement of SCTE in international events can provide new opportunities for
visibility into trends and technologies that are emerging overseas, enabling operators, vendors and programmers in the country to get a head start on the implementation of new technology.
For example, the impact of our SEMI program, the work of SCTE’s Sustainability Management Subcommittee (SMS) on energy and environmental standards for facilities and critical systems, and the development of an Adaptive Power System Interface Standard (APSIS) for hardware coming to market in 2013 and beyond are geared toward operators in the U.S.
In reality, the impact will be felt well beyond our borders, with vendors creating products for the U.S. cable market and overseas operators purchasing new equipment needing to factor APSIS into design and decision-making. In addition, it is likely that energy expertise from abroad could help to maximize the value of our standards, not only to U.S. operators, but to the global market.
Ultimately, the problems, solutions and opportunities of cable transcend national borders. It’s by assuring the rapid transfer of fundamental knowledge, expertise and innovation that the engineering community can drive the continued global growth of our industry.
In the months to come, look for more news about how SCTE is working with our peers around the world to ensure that the engineering workforce in the United States and globally is prepared for the challenges ahead.
Daniel Howard, senior vice president of engineering and
CTO of the SCTE
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