Survey: Cablecos ramp up DOCSIS 3.1 investment
August 8, 2018
Senior executives, operational managers and engineers in cable organisations around the world have reported aggressive plans to adopt and deploy DOCSIS 3.1, according to a recent customer survey conducted by Technicolor Connected Home in May and June of 2018.
The survey by the communications and entertainment technologist finds that 76 per cent of cable operator executives, managers and engineers currently oversee plans to ramp up investments in DOCSIS 3.1 technology, with 96 per cent of all respondents reporting that DOCSIS 3.1 is having – or will have – a strategic impact on their organisations.
DOCSIS 3.1 is the next generation of cable technology which will enable cable operators to boost speed and network capacity, while dramatically improving customers’ quality of service and energy efficiency.
The results of this survey show an industry that is rapidly moving to provide ultra-broadband (UBB) services with DOCSIS 3.1. While 47 per cent of all respondents indicated they are already in the market with DOCSIS 3.1 solutions for their subscribers,76 per cent of all respondents stated that they have invested – or have plans to invest more in DOCSIS 3.1 technology in 2018 compared to 2017, with future plans to invest more in DOCSIS 3.1 technology in 2019 compared to 2018.
As next-generation consumer devices floods the market, operators are grappling with new and innovative approaches to ensure that the bandwidth requirements are met. As a result, operators are evaluating various approaches to next-generation Ultra Broadband (UBB) to support a wide range of immersive video experiences including virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR).
When asked to rank and prioritise the services that are driving demand for the capabilities that can be delivered by DOCSIS 3.1 technologies, 67 per cent of respondents reported that Ultra High Definition (UHD) was a leading driver toward DOCSIS 3.1; gaming and connectivity management came in at 46 per cent and 38 per cent respectively.
Other services driving demand include 360-degree video (27 per cent), AR/VR (27 per cent), home security (15 per cent), Health (14 per cent) and Cybersecurity (10 per cent.)
The survey revealed that there were significant regional differences in adoption. DOCSIS 3.1 deployment in North America led the pack with 67 per cent and EMEA posted 46 per cent deployment. Asia and Latin America came in at 38 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.
Among respondents that already have deployed DOCSIS 3.1, 74 per cent report that DOCSIS 3.1 has improved – or will improve – the operational performance of their organisation’s cable operations.
The survey also reveals that:
- 62 per cent of all respondents agree or strongly agree that DOCSIS 3.1 improves the operational performance of their organisation’s cable operations.
- 45 per cent say that DOCSIS 3.1 improves the competitive position of the cable industry with other network service providers (telco, satellite, mobile, etc.)
According to Technicolor, the results of this survey provide a clear indication of the strategic importance DOCSIS 3.1 technology is playing as cable providers participate in the increasingly competitive broadband market.
As telco competitors rollout out next-generation fibre (GPON) and advanced copper (G.Fast) solutions, cable operators are betting on DOCSIS 3.1 to maintain – and build on – their current position supporting the bandwidth-intensive needs of connected home subscribers.