Top 5 Tech Articles You Might Have Missed – Week Ending June 10, 2016

Portugal-based cable operator NOS has launched a premium 4K video service, the first RDK 4K launch in Europe, according to Broadband TV News . For the transition to 4K video, NOS selected ARRIS’s...

Portugal-based cable operator NOS has launched a premium 4K video service, the first RDK 4K launch in Europe, according to Broadband TV News. For the transition to 4K video, NOS selected ARRIS’s HEVC set-tops to unite the new application framework from Espial and a completely refreshed user interface.

The Huffington Post highlighted the benefits of DOCSIS® 3.1 technology, noting that it is expected to support speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second to help make 4K television and virtual reality possible. The article included comments from ARRIS CTO Charles Cheevers, who noted that consumer demand for gigabit Wi-Fi speeds is growing quickly.

Engadget reported on Netflix’s new tool that measures video quality by gauging visual information fidelity, detail loss and the effect of motion. This new tool provides a quality test that is more reflective of real-life viewing. Netflix is reportedly releasing the software as an open-source code that will be available to help other companies fine-tune the quality of their videos.

Research firm Strategy Analytics noted in its latest report that fixed broadband service continues to grow in the U.S. and is not being replaced by mobile broadband, according to FierceCable. The report found that cable operators are driving growth through increased speeds and multiplay bundle options. It also found that operators added 3.3 million new broadband subscribers from April 2015 to March 2016.

CSI Magazine reported that the French government is launching a public consultation as it looks to open new frequency bands to help meet the growing needs of the Internet of Things (IoT.) The consultation will focus on requirements in three specific frequency bands and will help lay the foundation for future development of IoT.

  1. NOS introduces Europe’s first RDK 4K launch (June 8, 2016) By Julian Clover, Broadband TV News: NOS’s 4K service built on RDK, the first in Europe; with ARRIS ZD4500 HEVC set-top featuring application framework from Espial and content security from Nagra.
  2. Blazing Fast Gigabit Internet Now Possible with DOCSIS 3.1 Technology (June 3, 2016) By William Morrow, The Huffington Post: Think your internet is fast now? It’s about to get a whole lot faster.
  3. Netflix built a tool to gauge real-world video quality (June 6, 2016) By Jon Fingas, Engadget: It wants to know how good its streaming looks for the human eye.
  4. Cable's fixed broadband market not threatened by mobile, Strategy Analytics says (June 2, 2016) By Daniel Frankel, FireceCable: Mobile networks will not render fixed broadband services obsolete, says research company Strategy Analytics.
  5. France consults on IoT spectrum (June 6, 2016) By CSI Magazine Staff, CSI Magazine: The country’s government is launching a public consultation with a view to opening new sub-1Ghz frequency bands to meet the growing needs of the Internet of Things.