Advanced Television

Broadband

Numericable, Orange, SFR to roll out fibre in France

Numericable, Orange and SFR signed an agreement setting out the conditions for sharing fibre optic cables in buildings installed by either of them. The companies agreed to implement a 'single mode' solution in zones where they currently deploy, or soon plan to deploy, their networks. Each residence will be equipped with a special fibre allocated […]

December 19, 2008

Cable freezes digital migration

The US cable industry has agreed to halt the transition of nearly all channels from analogue to digital tiers during the first two months of 2009 to minimise potential consumer confusion about the federally mandated switch-off of over-the-air analogue TV signals on February 17, 2009. National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) president Kyle McSlarrow revealed […]

December 18, 2008

DLNA OKs MoCA

The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) has approved the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) technology standard for incorporation into the next version of its Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines, scheduled for release in early 2009. The guidelines aim to ensure that network operators and consumers can be assured that new services and products introduced into the […]

December 18, 2008

Jupiter rises in November

Jupiter Telecommunications, the largest multiple system operator (MSO) in Japan based on the number of customers served, has revealed that the total subscribing households as of November 30, 2008 served by J:COM's 18 consolidated franchises reached 2.92 million, up 282,600, or 10.7 per cent since November 30, 2007. Combined revenue generating units (RGUs) for cable […]

December 18, 2008

Google: we're for net neutrality

Google has said it is committed to principles of equal network access, after a report said it approached Internet carriers with a proposal to create a “fast lane” for its content. Google’s telecom and media counsel in Washington, Richard Whitt, said in a company blog that the search powerhouse offered to place its servers within […]

December 17, 2008

Virgin targets BitTorrent users

Virgin Media has confirmed that it will introduce network monitoring technology in 2009 to specifically target and restrict BitTorrent traffic. The move will represent a major policy shift for the ISP/cable provider. Virgin Media currently temporarily throttles the bandwidth of its heaviest downloaders across all applications at peak times, rather than targeting and shaping specific […]

December 17, 2008

Virgin Media launches 50Mb service

From Colin Mann in London Quad-play service provider Virgin Media has launched the UK's first 50Mb broadband service, which it proposes to roll out to all 12.6 million homes covered by its fibre optic network during the Summer of 2009. By the end of 2008, Virgin Media aims to have completed deployment to 40 per […]

December 16, 2008

FTTH rankings

The first official European Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) ranking shows smaller countries leading the way in FTTH connections. Mid-term projections show, however, that bigger economies are closing the gap. Sweden, Norway and Slovenia are the leaders in the first official European ranking of FTTH penetration published by the FTTH Council Europe today. The ranking shows the percentage […]

December 16, 2008

China plans fibre network

China has confirmed that it will build its first high-capacity optic fibre network nationwide, which is able to carry Internet, TV and phone services through one network. The Ministry of Science and Technology signed an agreement with the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) on building the national network. The backbone network of […]

December 16, 2008

Series stacking on Virgin

The BBC iPlayer's series stacking feature – allowing Viewers to stream any episode, after it has first been broadcast, for the duration of an entire series. – is now available on Virgin’s digital cable TV service. The 'series catch up' option has been added to the iPlayer’s cable home screen, bringing functionality that has been […]

December 16, 2008