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Bandwidth Crunch Looms for Cable Companies

Posted by samzenpus on from the the-tubes-are-almost-full dept.

coax4life writes "While Verizon and AT&T lay fiber, cable companies are looking at a huge bandwidth crunch according to a new report. Increased demand for high-def programming on the TV side and faster download speeds on the ISP side of the business will leave cable companies in a rough spot — after spending over $100 billion in the last decade on infrastructure improvements. Jumping on the fiber bandwagon may help. 'Upgrading to a fiber infrastructure is a much more expensive proposition, and one more likely to occur in areas where the cable companies are facing more competition. It can happen, though — several years ago, Comcast's predecessor on the northwest side of Chicago laid fiber on top of its existing coaxial installation. The payoff is good for both cable companies and users, as it can result in more programming choices and faster Internet access.' Moving to switched digital video solutions will also help."

7 of 214 comments (clear)

  1. This would not be a problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    If these companies could buy "blood bandwidth" from the mines in Africa.

    1. Re:This would not be a problem by TubeSteak · · Score: 3, Funny

      If these companies could buy "blood bandwidth" from the mines in Africa. The companies did buy blood bandwidth, from the days of ARPANET until the late 90's, but after much public outcry they enacted the Bedminster Process Certification Scheme (BPCS).

      The BPCS originated from a meeting of American telephone companies in Bedminster, New Jersey, USA (former home of pre-breakup AT&T) in May 2000. It was enacted in 2003 to assure consumers that by purchasing bandwidth they were not financing war and human rights abuses.

      Some say it does not go far enough. For instance, Amnesty International says "[We] welcome the Bedminster Process as an important step to dealing with the problem of conflict bandwidth. But until the bandwidth trade is subject to mandatory, impartial monitoring, there is still no effective guarantee that all conflict bandwidth will be identified and removed from the market."
      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
  2. obligatory Homer Simpson quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Internet? Is that thing still around?

    1. Re:obligatory Homer Simpson quote by HAKdragon · · Score: 4, Funny

      I heard they have it on computers now.

      --
      "Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs. We have a protractor."
  3. Honest! by MasamuneXGP · · Score: 2, Funny

    For real this time! Seriously! I mean it!

  4. It's only fair by AvitarX · · Score: 3, Funny

    That we prevent companies from putting down new technology that competes with cable.

    That way everything stays the same.

    --
    Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
  5. Re:My heart bleeds by Grishnakh · · Score: 2, Funny

    The USA is NOT dropping below third-world countries. We are LEADING the world. Answer me this: which country in the world has the best-paid CEOs? That's right, the USA!!! If we have to pay 10 times as much for internet access as other countries, that's what we must do to make sure our CEOs and corporate executives are the best paid in the world. Go USA!!! Yee-haw!!