11-04-96
Cable Telephony Services Taking Off in UK
Scientific Atlanta Introduces One Way Cable Modem
GI and Rogers Test 256 QAM over HFC
Com21 Partners with Philips to Distribute Modems
MFS and Cable & Wireless to Build Underwater Cable Network
Motorola Announces Market Status
Cable Telephony Services Taking Off in UK
I suppose the Brits are just starting to tackle the difficulty of finding where the F-connector fits into their phone. Cable telephony services have been launched in the UK and Diamond Cable Comms is leading the way. They recently announced to subscribers that off-peak local calls would be free. Their network which covers 1.1 million homes services the areas of Nottingham, Newark, Grantham, Lincoln, Melton Mowbray, Leicester, and Mainsfeld.
In the same country, Bell Cablemedia is preparing to also offer telephony services. They have announced a deal with Nortel that calls for US$100 million worth of equipment and services over the next five years. Nortel will supply sysnchronous digital hierarchy equipment including a wide range of high capacity multiplexers and compact access devices. Nortel services to be offered to Bell Cablemedia include network planning support, and environmental and stress equipment testing services.
Scientific Atlanta introduces One Way Cable Modem
After many months of indecision, Scientific Atlanta has made the strategic move to go after the one way cable modem market. Their disclosure comes with the announcement of S-A’s new telco return cable modem known as the DataXcellerator. The modem which uses QPR modulation provides 1.2 Mbps downstream in a 3 Mhz carrier. DataXcellerator, due for availability in the first quarter of 1997 is expected to be priced at $199 in volume.
The data network will be managed by HP OpenView network management software and server equipment will be provided by Sun Microsystems.
Scientific Atlanta has temporarily abandoned the two way market in hopes that the 85%+ US systems that are not two way capable will be an easy tap. However, taking the low road may prove to be risky. Though the potential customers may be big in numbers, operator hesitancy may be high due to worries about competition from competing HFC systems and ADSL offerings. Furthermore, operators may choose to invest in upgrading their system to hybrid fiber/coax before making commitments to offer subpar data services.
Scientific Atlanta
http://www.sciatl.com
NextLevel and Rogers Cablesystems Test 256 QAM over HFC
NextLevel and Rogers Cablesystems announced the successful testing of 256 QAM transmission over an HFC network. The testing, performed during August and September of this year, successfully expanded cable operator channel capacity by 44 percent. The trial was performed at 21 different locations and served by five different headend sites located in Toronto, Newmarket, St. Thomas, and Woodstock.
Field testing used GI’s 256 QAM modulator, 256 (ITU-831), FEC, TDM fiber link, C6M RF upconverter and new 64/2566 QAM DEMOD. The systems tested operated with a fiber optic link up to 55 km in length and cascades of up to 38 amps. Tests during 15 minute gating periods at all locations resulted in error free performance. Overnight tests averaged 99.9% error free performance. The worst case performance achieved 99.6% error free operation.
NextLevel
http://www.gi.com
Rogers Cablesystems
http://www.rogers.com/Cable
Com21 Partners with Philips Public Telecom to Distribute Modems
Com21 announced an agreement with Philips Public Telecom Systems of Melbourne, Australia that includes a joint agreement to market and distribute Com21’s modem and data communications equipment worldwide. Philips will also provide integration services for Com21 customers and push Philip’s own NetCaptain products. NetCaptain is an end-to-end solution system sold by Philips Broadband Networks. The Com21 agreement with Philips excludes the Korean market, which Com21 has contracted out to DACOM.
Com21
http://www.com21.com
MFS and Cable & Wireless to Build Underwater Cable Network
MFS Communications Company announced that they will be working with Cable & Wireless to build and operate a transatlantic cable system that will provide diversely routed services between London and New York. The system will feature self-healing marine and land-based networks with dual routing and diversity supported by one management system.
The underwater portion of the network will be built by Alcatel Submarine Networks. Cable & Wireless, which is currently surveying the oceanic work, plans to be the principal marine installer for 12,000 kms of looped cables. The network, which will use the latest SDH technology and costing approximately US$500 million, will have a fully redundant configuration and offer 10 Gbps of capacity.
Cable & Wireless owns 8 percent of the world’s undersea cable capacity and Cable & Wireless Marine is the largest installer and maintainer of submarine cables in the world.
Motorola Announces Market Status
Motorola announced that they are shipping cable modems to 40 different cities worldwide. Disclosed international locations include Singapore, Korea, Japan, France, Belgium, England, Norway, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and Canada. Motorola added that some of the major MSO’s that it will be servicing includes @Home, TCI, Comcast, Cox, Time Warner, Continental Cablevision, Shaw, Videotron, Pacific Bell, NYNEX, and US West. Motorola is working with the @Home, RoadRunner, America Online and Discovery Online on content development.
© Copyright 2000 Gecko Research & Publishing
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