Comments
DHagar
3/17/2016 4:34:18 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
Mike, this sounds like a positive development for cable operators. I think Comcast is wise to be looking at where SDN and virtualization truly adds value. I would think that Comcast is looking for distinct competitive advantages and wanting to gain new values out of their apparently approved mergers.
Did the panelists forsee cable operators aligning with telecoms or creating their own networks?
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
As I recall, Comcast has done some work with OpenStack but in general cable does seem to be behind the curve a bit. Since they compete with telcos, I don't see a lot of cooperation in the future, even in places, such as interconnects, where it would benefit business customers.
DHagar
3/17/2016 6:02:37 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@Mike, thanks for info.
Maybe they will follow the successful cooptition of other technology partnerships where they cooperate with competitors in strategic markets - seems like that might be a good move for them - this might help them gear up even faster.
mhhf1ve
3/18/2016 2:34:58 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
> "Maybe they will follow the successful cooptition of other technology partnerships where they cooperate with competitors in strategic markets.."
That reminds me that I haven't seen much about Comcast's partnership with Verizon Wireless much recently.... It would be very interesting to see mobile and cable pairings that provided unique services -- or even just more loyalty incentives like higher mobile data caps for Comcast subscribers. Or use of Comcast's WiFi hotspots to keep mobile users connected...
DHagar
3/18/2016 4:52:46 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@mhhf1ve, that would make great sense - whether they choose to build that capability will be another thing - but if they did, they would rally have something new to offer!
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
Wouldn't it be interesting if, in lieu of furthering their partnership, Comcast simply went out and bought a small cellular provider?
(T-Mobile was going to be bought by AT&T before the feds kyboshed that deal... perhaps they'd still be on the market for the right suitor?)
mhhf1ve
3/21/2016 9:26:32 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
> "Wouldn't it be interesting if, in lieu of furthering their partnership, Comcast simply went out and bought a small cellular provider?"
That *would* be interesting.. except any small cellular provider wouldn't have the necessary footprint to really be too attractive. Unless by "small" you mean.. Sprint?
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@mhh: What about US Cellular? That might be particularly attractive for its footprint in rural areas that some of the bigger boys haven't gotten to, yet.
dlr5288
3/21/2016 8:23:35 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
Yes I haven't either.
I'm both a Verizon and Comcast costumer and their partnership is almost nonexistent. It would be great to actually see these two come together and do something great for their clients. I think these two paired together are capable of doing great things. Maybe they should get the ball rolling though...
mhhf1ve
3/21/2016 9:24:47 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
"I'm both a Verizon and Comcast costumer and their partnership is almost nonexistent."
Interesting data point. I was a customer of both in the past, but I haven't seen any further offers from either on any kind of service that might bring me back to both at the same time. I would have thought that VZW and Comcast could pull off some innovative services that would be beneficial to customers of both... but.. maybe they haven't worked out the revenue sharing deals.
AT&T has U-verse and mobile deals... but maybe those deals aren't attracting customers and pulling marketshare towards AT&T enough for Comcast&VZW to mimic them.
I would like to see an alternative to Google Fi.. that used VZW and Comcast WiFi. But maybe that's just me.
dlr5288
3/23/2016 7:42:38 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
Yes, it's very confusing!
I just so happen to be a customer to both, but not because of any special offer. I haven't really seen them team up on anything? Maybe they're working out things for consumers, which would be awesome, but I havent heard or seen anything yet.
faryl
3/23/2016 9:22:10 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
I have AT&T for Uverse and mobile, but the only benefit they seem to give me for having both is that I have a single log-on to pay my bills :-/
Ariella
3/17/2016 7:07:10 PM
User Rank Author
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@Mike that makes sense.
faryl
3/19/2016 12:59:26 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
Is AT&T considered a cable provider with respect to its Uverse product? (Similar to Verizon's Fios as well, I guess).
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@faryl: Indeed, although Uverse isn't as well-known or oft-spoken of as its competitors.
More importantly, though, don't forget their acquisition of DirecTV.
faryl
3/21/2016 1:55:14 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
I think part of what probably hinders U-verse from being more widely used/recognized is that its availabilty is so limited, due to AT&T's own physical cable limitations.
I'm actually a subscriber of its "broadband" services (because I resent not having a choice in cable providers here, so am stubbornly refusing to give my money to Cox!) and it's still using above-ground DSL lines (though they've recently been doing some work to upgrade those locally).
But even though I have U-verse for internet, they don't have the capability to support its cable content services where I live. (Which just motivates my "cord cutting").
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
Above-ground DSL. Wow.
Next you'll tell me they still use ISDN. ;)
faryl
3/23/2016 9:19:35 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this - but they're also coming to install an old-fashioned landline at my place on Friday.
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@faryl: They still have those? :O
faryl
3/26/2016 6:24:51 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@Joe They do! And I am now the proud owner of one :) I'm thinking of getting one of those football phones or one of the see-through ones to get the full old school effect :)
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@faryl: So jealous.
When I was a kid, I wanted a Garfield phone, where his back was the receiver. Didn't get it. :/
faryl
3/28/2016 5:01:12 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@Joe - It's never too late! I bet they have them on eBay!
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
@faryl: Yeah, but now I understand the value of a dollar. ;)
mhhf1ve
3/21/2016 9:13:32 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Cable Gears Up for Next Phase SDN
Nope. AT&T is a transforming telco... MSO? CSP? I dunno what acronyms or labels they're handing out these days to giant communications companies, but the telco/cableco names are being retired.
> "Is AT&T considered a cable provider...?"
afwriter
3/17/2016 11:24:36 PM
User Rank Platinum
Finally
Finally, a cable company is looking into the future more than 6 months. The fact that it is Comcast is not surprising in the fact that they are starting to feel the heat from other competitors, but a little surprising because the company has been so stuborn on everything up until this point.
Re: Finally
Comcast had a big re-org a few years ago because it saw the writing on the wall. The X1 platform is one example of its transformation, and it does a lot with TV Everywhere. But I'm sure a lot of this is much more difficult for the smaller operators that are facing off with telcos, Netflix, etc.
Re: Finally
@afwriter...speaking of Comcast and feeling the heat, I noticed they rolled out gigabit internet speeds in Atlanta today...just Atlanta, so we'll see how that goes...
http://www.pcmag.com/news/342934/comcast-bringing-gigabit-speeds-to-atlanta
clrmoney
3/18/2016 11:24:44 AM
User Rank Platinum
Cables Next Phase
There need to be a next phase becasue some of these cable companies need an upgrade like charter, bright house so maybe thay can merge or use their SDN to make it better for thei companies.
elizabethv
3/21/2016 7:57:50 AM
User Rank Platinum
Virtualization
"Just because something can be virtualized doesn't mean it should be."
I suppose that's a fair thought. I would wonder about the demographic of the panelists. I think most people in the younger generations would prefer to almost everything virtualized if possible. Whereas I know a lot of people in older generations would likely not want things to be virtualized. Virtualization almost inherantly lends itself to more options though. On the part of a business, it almost makes sense to allow customers more options. With more options you have the ability to make more customers happy. And let's be honest, where cable companies are concerned, more often than not, your options are fairly limited.
I still think it's going to be difficult for cable companies to survive long term keeping up with the status quo. Do you think they'll be able to figure out how to survive?
jbtombes
3/21/2016 11:18:06 AM
User Rank Platinum
plugvest venue
Any significance to CableLabs being the venue of the first OPNVF plugfest? (May 9-13)
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