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Cable Vs Telco Networks

The past decade has seen Cable companies replace their tree-and-branch networks for more robust mixes of fiber and coaxial cable, known as hybrid fiber-coax (HFC).

Telcos have also aggressively deployed fiber in a bid to face off competition from cable for core connectivity, in particular:

Verizon’s FiOS
AT&T’s U-Verse.

In direct competition, Comcast plans to test the lastest version of HFC [DOCSIS 3.0], this year [2007]. Comcast will most likely deploy DOCSIS 3.0 in areas where Verizon are rolling out fiber, as one strategy in their plan to increase bandwidth. However, Compacst Cable networks dont bring fiber to homes; it runs from premise to a neighborhood node. Transition points provide unit based control over bandwidth.

Hybrid Fiber-Coax [HFC]

HFC has evolved based on specifications from industry consortium Cable Television Laboratories (CableLabs) called the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS).

DOCSIS 3.0 offers speeds of more than 100 Mbps, supports IPV6 and other features.

Maintaining QoS for key applications is likely to be done using:

Transition point node size adjustment to boost bandwidth to a given home or business.
Use of switched digital video (SDV). Instead of sending all programming to all subscribers; SDV free up capacity by only sending desired programming to subscribers.

The continuing competition between Telcos and Cable companies will ensure a steady improvement in technology for consumers and businessess.