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Archives
 August 1999 Issue
News & Opinion
Pulse
Vendors Tout Software for the Broadband Millennium
With much of the focus at Cable 99 placed on programming, the show floor provided an opportunity to discuss the latest in cable telecommunications with broadband luminaries from the vendor side of the coax. In separate interviews, Philips Broadband Networks Paul Pishal and Scientific-Atlantas Bill Wall agreed that keeping up with the growing and changing needs of cable operators these days is no easy task, but its an exciting one.
What does it take to keep up with cable operators planning for broadbands new millennium? "Two parts technology, part RF technology, part science and one part engineering," said Pishal. "Everyone knows the ingredients, but no one knows the recipe."
Pishal, who moderated a technical conference called "Internet Topics" at the show cites traffic and software as two major areas of concern as operators expand their networks capabilities. "Its a new set of services and engineering considerations that vendors are rolling out," he said, and its important to be prepared.
"Now were going into new technical places because of interactivity and the Internet," Pishal added. With that progression comes some serious concerns about traffic. "Traffic was never an issue when you were just offering a new channel," he said. Now, things are different. "One of the worst things you can do is talk about high-speed on your network and then realize that there is congestion," he warned.
With two-way services comes increasing demands for interactivity and the software to make it happen. "Its important," he said, "so that you can get third-party applications on the TV set." The current vehicle to achieve this functionality is the set-top box.
As they progress into this relatively new territory, Pishal cautioned operators to be aware of what he calls "IT (information technology) immersion." Striving to achieve the latest in interactive services over cable networks means, "You really get dunked in the technology." The increased revenues are worth it he said.
"Software applications are key to revenue growth," Pishal explained. An important facet of this is the way they all interplay and reach the consumer. Keeping this in mind, PBN is responding accordingly. "Were building flexible platforms to move in the direction operators need to go," he said.
Flexibility also is important to S-A said Wall. The industrys high-speed evolution has prompted it to delve into new arenas to help meet cable operators needs and rapidly increase revenues.
"S-A always has been thought of as a hardware-oriented company," Wall said. "But today, the majority of our R&D efforts are with software rather than hardware."
At the show, S-A announced a deal with Israel-based Peach Networks to integrate Internet gaming, Microsoft Windows applications and Internet browsing on its Explorer 2000 digital platform. This deal will enable many of the personal computers (PCs) most popular features over the set-top.
According to Wall, Peach Networks system can deliver most all applications written to run on Microsoft Windows. Coupling the system with the PowerTV operating system (OS) enhances these capabilities. A browser from WorldGate will take these features to the subscriber.
WorldGates product is very much a server-centric application. "It gives the MSO (multiple system operator) choices," explained Wall.
Networking also is emerging as a hot topic at S-A. "Home networking is really an area were focusing on a lot right now," he added. Standards are what will allow the industry to really progress in the area. "Standards activities are very much in their infancy today," Wall explained. When it comes to home networking, "We think that standards should be in the middle of it," he added.
News Bytes
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Cable modem systems vendor Terayon plans to acquire Imedia, which produces routing and re-multiplexing systems for digital video. The technology enables cable operators to select and customize their program lineups for delivery over standards-based set-top boxes. Terayon officials said the deal will expedite the companys ability to offer a complete broadband system portfolio to support high-speed delivery of data, voice and video over cable.
- Five more cable modems have been approved by CableLabs for retail availability in the latest round of Data Over Cable Service Interface (DOCSIS) certification. The newly certified companies are Askey Computer Corp., Cisco Systems, Philips Broadband Networks, Samsung Information Systems of America and Sony Corp.
- These additions join previously certified modems by Toshiba, Thomson Consumer Electronics, 3Com, General Instrument and Arris Interactive, bringing the total number of certified modems to 10.
- Charter Communications and Bresnan Communications have a deal under which Charter will acquire Bresnan. When completed, the acquisition will add approximately 690,000 customers to Charters subscriber base. Upon closing, slated for early 2000, Charter will serve approximately 6.2 million customers as the fourth largest MSO in the United States.
- Adelphia said it will operate its majority-owned subsidiary Hyperion Telecommunications Inc. under the doing business as (d.b.a.) name of Adelphia Business Solutions. The name change reflects the companys ongoing efforts to forge a single brand in the converging voice, video and data markets for both residential and business customers. CT
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