more on Broadband eyes a quantum leap

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Mark Laubach <mark () squirewood com>
Date: July 22, 2005 4:59:49 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net, Ip ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Broadband eyes a quantum leap


dsr () tao merseine nu wrote:


> "The words "$0 change" seem to imply free, but in what way does  
> that mean
> "you must replace all the consumer equipment and your head end  
> equipment
> with new products, which happen to be licensed to my company"?"

The $0 change applies to the cable Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial network
between the head end and the subscribers equipment.  It does *not*
include the end points, i.e. the "dongles".  Changing dongles is
going to happen at various phases of new releases of standards
or new services.  Including introduction of SDM at the same
delta cost of the existing modulation technology.  Cable operators
know they will be changing out dongle equipment from time to
time going forward.  Not having to change the HFC plant is of
*significant* benefit because it is far more costly than
changing the dongles.

And oh, the cable industry believes in rather strict open
licensing terms with multiple participating vendors.  They don't
want to be held hostage by anyone.

Is new bandwidth "free".  No.  But it does come at the same
cost when changing out old equipment for new and new equipment
will cost capital.

Cheers,
Mark



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