Evolutionary Rhythm: Service vs. Network

High-Definition has irresistibly transformed the consumer video watching experience.  Its allure has a downside for operators – the pressure to provide more HD programming, creating a capacity management challenge.  Furthermore, today’s version of high definition is merely HD 1.0.  Already in labs, standards bodies, and being demonstrated from trade show floors to “big box” stores are emerging HD 2.0 formats which will add to the burden. Simultaneously, IP data growth (DOCSIS) has been charging ahead at around 50% YOY (CAGR).  Growth has been fueled in recent years by….video!  Over-the-top streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and MLB.TV are now an important component of media consumption habits.  This is in large part due to the rapid embrace of IP access-only Tablets and Smartphones capable of high quality video.  This 50% CAGR has been so predictable that we have a well-known name for it – Nielsen’s Law.  With its own Wikipedia entry, this must be an eternal force.  Mustn't it? In an effort to fight off the implications of Nielsen’s Law while managing the video service evolution, operators are engaged in activities that substantially improve network efficiency and increase capacity.  These various tools allow operators to see a way out of this resource limitation predicament…or do they? Today @ 3:30, come to Room 207A at the Walter E Washington Convention Center for the Cable Show’s Spring Technical Forum, Session 35 – Widening the Pipe: The Evolution in Cable Access Architecture and Infrastructure, moderated by Comcast’s Tony Werner.  Arris’ Dr. Robert Howald will discuss the delicate balancing act of Service Evolution and Network Evolution and the conceptual underpinnings of this classic service provider conflict. In this talk, Dr. Howald draws on Arris’ industry expertise in video, data, and network evolution to assess this multi-dimensional industry challenge using an easy-to-understand itemized Balance Sheet approach.  He then describes how to convert the MSO Bandwidth Assets and Liabilities into a timeline projection to guide long term Capacity Management, using a case study of a hypothetical, typical “today” case and taking it through 15 years of Service and Network Evolution.  The audience will be treated to valuable insights into emerging services and technologies, an understanding of the key trade-offs, and uniquely benefit from the example reference migration strategy that can be used as a baseline to launch operators on their own transition journey to the All-IP end state and a new generation of subscriber services..