1. The State of the Art and Evolution of Cable Television and Broadband Technology
Andrew Afflerbach, Ph.D., P.E.
CEO and Director of Engineering
CTC Technology & Energy
October 8, 2013

2. Report Outline Evolution of underlying infrastructure
DOCSIS and PON over Coax
Internet protocol (IP) migration and convergence
Evolution of applications and video content presentation
Evolution of video production
© CTC 2013

3. Summary of Findings
Cable the primary access to residential and business broadband for foreseeable future for most of U.S.
Hybrid fiber/coax has significant limitations relative to fully fiber optic networks
Rapid increases in demand
Over-the-top video, gaming, streaming media
Cable operators seek to keep up while limiting capital expenditures
Electronics, processes, software
Cost-effective approaches for PEG production and needs in cable franchise
© CTC 2013

4. Limitations of Coaxial Cable
Current coaxial cable systems limited to 1 GHz bandwidth
In practice MHz due to electronics
Typical data speeds low hundreds Mbps for premium users
Typical data speeds tens of Mbps
Scalable by adding fiber and upgrading electronics (limited)
Single strand of fiber 10,000 GHz bandwidth
Typical backbone speeds hundreds of Gbps
Typical access network speeds
Bidirectional 1 Gbps (active Ethernet)
Tens to hundreds of Mbps (PON) (depending on service)
Scalable with faster electronics
Cable industry strategy is to add fiber incrementally
© CTC 2013

5. Evolution of Underlying Infrastructure From DOCSIS 3. 0 to 3
Evolution of Underlying Infrastructure From DOCSIS 3.0 to 3.1 and beyond
Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) – Cable modem standard
DOCSIS 1.0 cable modem introduced by industry in late- 1990s to increase standardization and reduce costs
Counterpart to Ethernet and WiFi
Later versions increased speed, security and functionality
DOCSIS 3.0 now standard (many 2.0 still in use)
bonds multiple cable channels
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6. Evolution of Underlying Infrastructure Today’s Cable-TV infrastructure
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7. Evolution of Underlying Infrastructure DOCSIS 3.1
To be introduced in
Bonds 200 MHz channels
5 to 10 Gbps shared by neighborhood
100/25 Mbps average with appropriate planning and segmentation
Requires new modems and hub electronics
Would benefit from reallocation of upstream
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8. Evolution of Underlying Infrastructure Ethernet PON over Coax (EPOC) and beyond
Replace DOCSIS with “Fiber PON” type equipment
Comparable to Verizon FiOS but with RF coaxial interfaces
Economy of scale with FTTP providers
Optimized for IP Ethernet
Virtual dedicated connections for each home
Can coexist with non-EPOC use
10 Gbps per node area – 100/25 Mbps average per user
Faster speeds require outside plant work
Deeper fiber
More coaxial capacity (> 1 GHz) (drops)
Higher modulation signals (1024 and 4096-QAM) (drops)
Reuters

9. IP Convergence Toward an Internet-Based Approach
Current system divides channel spectrum
Television channels (fixed digital QAM channels)
Video-on-demand (servers connected to digital QAM channels)
Data/cable modem channels
Assignment is “nailed down”
Evolving “CCAP” approach
Unified headend equipment for video, data
More flexibility to reassign channels
Evolution path to putting VoD on IP in future
Reduces cost and complexity
Currently being introduced
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10. Evolution of Underlying Infrastructure Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP)
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11. Evolution of Underlying Infrastructure Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP)
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12. Other Evolution of Infrastructure to IP
IPv6 introduction
Large global address space (no need for NAT)
Like migrating from extension ( ext 1234) to direct dial ( )
Benefits interactive video, games, embedded devices
Being introduced by Comcast– “dual stack”
Moving VoD to IP
Greater centralization
Comcast and over-the-top on same set top converter
Set top converter with open apps (X1 and X2)
© CTC 2013

13. Evolution of Infrastructure to IP
Current Internet media mostly unicast (separate copy for each viewer
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14. Evolution of Infrastructure to IP
Multicast networks carry single copy of a program viewed by multiple people
Critical for migrating “television” to IP
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15. Other Evolution of Cable-Related Infrastructure
Migration from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4
Standard used in Blu-ray and FiOS HDTV
Double compression ratio
Migration to H.265
Better quality video than MPEG-4 at half the bit rate
Facilitate use of UHDTV 4K and 8K – 60 degree field of view
4K in 2014 in cable trials
No clear path to open cable set top boxes
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16. Estimated Development Timeline
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17. Usage of Cable System Operator Content vs. Over-the-Top (OTT)
Rapid growth of OTT to $15 billion in 2016
Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, XBox growing device and software ecosystem
Comcast and operators hosting content locally (Akamai) to manage backbone bandwidth
OTT challenges capacity in access layer (oversubscription)
Cable operator has full control over delivery of OTT
Can prioritize traffic
Can determine amount of available backbone or access Internet traffic
Can establish data caps
Neutrality issue
© CTC 2013

18. Integration of Wireless
Comcast outdoor WiFi in several metropolitan areas
Many options for working with wireless service providers
Fiber mobile backhaul to cell sites/antennas
Cable content on LTE network (eMBS)
Picocells on cable modems
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19. Integration of Wireless
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20. Evolution of Video Production
Typical full studio equipment costs $500,000 to $1,500, $3 to $5 million over 15 years
Falling costs and improving technology create more options outside studio
remote controlled cameras and pre-wired facilities
virtual sets
portable production equipment
network connectivity – fiber and wireless
Need for trained staff continues
Need for storage
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21. New approaches to local programming
HDTV now expected by viewers
VoD well-suited to PEG
High bandwidth network
Remote origination
Centralized storage/production/switching
Shared staff
Social media integration
Access to electronic programming guide
Training public – who can generate content at home and at the studio
Interaction through Skype, Google Hangouts
Enhanced portable video production equipment that minimizes time and staff need and operating costs
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22. Conclusion Cable systems sit in the middle of the broadband ecosystem
Rapid growth of bandwidth demand pushes limits of cable technology
Cable industry using incremental model to meet demand with existing infrastructure
All data, video media moving toward converged IP
Significant wireless/cable synergy
Rich opportunities for PEG – need network connectivity, training, VoD, HDTV, programming guide placement
© CTC 2013